As it is national apprenticeship week, we would like to learn more about our apprentice’s experience. How are we supporting them and what makes them chose us? Following an apprenticeship pathway in comparison to a traditional educational route.

Our apprentices benefit from:

• Hands-on, real-world experience alongside experienced professionals
• Ongoing support, mentoring and structured learning
• The opportunity to earn while they learn and build a long-term career
• A pathway that combines practical skills with recognised qualifications

Q&A with our Acorn apprentice

Meet Victoria Canaris, Acorn’s electrical apprentice. Let’s dive in and explore her experience with us through this Q&A with a selection of insightful questions.

Q1. Why did you choose an apprenticeship over another route?

Victoria: “I chose an apprenticeship because I thought about what kind of lifestyle and I wanted and what routes I could take to achieve that. I had also grown a real interest in working with electricity and wanted to get into this area.”

Q2. What does a typical day at Acorn look like for you?

Victoria: “A typical day would be commuting to site on the tube for me (getting my driving soon!), getting to site which at the moment has been mostly in office space buildings and in central London, observing the electrician checking faults/db inspection checks /emergency light replacements – jobs I’ve been there for so far and learning through listening, asking questions and demonstrations”.

Q3. What’s the most valuable skill you’ve learned so far?

Victoria: “I value the increase in my confidence in my skills and my knowledge retention. This has happened though proving to myself that I can learn new skills in an area that I’m completely new to as well as my dedication.”

Q4. What support do you receive as an apprentice?

Victoria: “The electricians, electrical managers/supervisors and college team have been supportive through encouragement, understanding and thoughtfulness.”

Q5. What has surprised you most about working in engineering?

Victoria: “I have been surprised at just how many avenues you can go down within electrical engineering. I’ve learnt about different specialisations you can work on through talking with electricians/engineers and there is constant progression. There will never be a case where you know everything in electrical engineering, as this sector progresses with the modern world.”

Q6. What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?

Victoria: “Considering an apprenticeship in an area that you have interest in is rewarding for your own confidence and sense of achievement. A great advantage is gaining the experience while becoming qualified through on-the-job learning. You will learn more through showing up every day, listening and asking questions. Also, there are lots of room for my fellow women of colour, LGBTQIA+ to succeed. Engineering is statistically proven to have a majority white male composition here in the United Kingdom and so my advice is to not feel intimidated or hesitant when considering a career in engineering because of this.”

STEM Events

We’re passionate about supporting the next generation of engineers and technicians — that’s why we were proud to organise a series of STEM career events designed to showcase real opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and help students understand how their learning can translate into meaningful careers.

Through interactive sessions at Reading College and Bracknell & Wokingham College, our team shared insights about the facilities management and building services sectors, answered questions, and provided students with information about the apprenticeship pathways and technical roles available within our organisation.

Over 150+ students engaged with the events with many of them expressing interest in future apprenticeships with us. This was reflecting our commitment to supporting skills development and bridging the industry skills gap.

You can read more about these inspiring events and their impact here: Case Study: Bringing STEM to Life for the Next Generation at Acorn Limited

 

Why We Offer Apprenticeships?

We are proud to offer apprenticeship opportunities that provide an alternative and valuable pathway into the workplace. Our apprenticeship programmes combine hands-on experience with structured learning, allowing individuals to gain recognised qualifications while developing practical, real-world skills. By offering apprenticeships at Acorn, we are investing in future talent, supporting career progression, and creating opportunities for people to learn, grow and succeed within our industry. It is important to tackle the current talent gap within the engineering industry by giving opportunities to those talented individuals looking to start up their career.

Contact us today if you are looking to begin a career with us and would like more information on our apprenticeships. We will be happy to answer any questions which you may have.