- search close
- menu close menu close
National Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to highlight the role apprenticeships play in developing practical skills and long-term careers within the electrical engineering sector. At Bowers Electricals, apprentices form an important part of our workforce, gaining hands-on experience while working alongside experienced engineers on real projects. To mark the week, we spoke to all of our apprentices to hear about their experiences so far, what they’ve learned on the job, and what it’s like being an apprentice at Bowers Electricals.
Megan joined Bowers Electricals in 2023 and is currently completing a Level 3 Fitting Engineer apprenticeship within our Motor Rewinds Department. As part of the team, she is gaining hands-on experience working on a range of motor rewind and repair projects while developing the technical skills needed for a career in electrical engineering.
What did you do before your apprenticeship, and what made you choose to apply for this apprenticeship?
“I went to college to do joinery, but I didn’t really enjoy it or the way it was taught. I just didn’t think it wasn’t the best way for me to learn. I realised pretty quickly that I learn better by actually doing the work, so an apprenticeship felt like a much more hands-on option.
I decided to apply here because when I came to have a look around, I liked the place straight away. The people seemed really friendly, and the work looked interesting.”
What attracted you to an apprenticeship rather than the traditional academic route?
“I learn a lot better when I can do the work hands-on, especially when there’s a skilled mentor there to show me how things should be done. Having someone to work alongside who I can go to if I’m struggling or unsure really helps. Matt, who I work with, has been a massive help, and I really enjoy working with him.
At college, I didn’t find it very supportive in comparison. When things got more difficult, you were kind of left to figure it out yourself or ask other students, who were usually just as unsure as you were.”
What does your typical day look like?
“My workdays here are usually pretty varied, depending on what jobs we’ve got on. We’re normally really busy, and in one day I could be doing anything from cleaning parts to stripping down motors. I also sometimes get to go out on site with Matt, which is a really good experience. It’s nice to see where the work actually ends up.”
Is there a particular project or job that you are most proud of?
“I’ve really taken a liking to all the motor rewind work I get to do. I love finishing a rewind and seeing how neat and tidy it looks once it’s done. Looking back over the three years I’ve been here, I can really see how much I’ve improved, and it makes me feel proud of the motor rewind work I’m doing now.”
What’s something small at work that makes a difference to you or your day?
“Definitely the people. Everyone here is so nice and friendly. Coming into the business as a woman was a bit daunting at first, especially as it’s such a male-dominated industry, but everyone has been amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer or more supportive team, and I genuinely love working with them.”
What do you like to do with your time outside of work?
“I enjoy relaxing outside of work and like to have some downtime. I enjoy going out and spending time with friends. I also try to go to the gym when I can, and it’s something I am getting into and starting to enjoy as well.”
Matt joined Bowers Electricals in November 2022 and is currently completing a Level 3 Engineering Fitter Standard apprenticeship within our Motor Rewinds Department. Since joining the team, he has been developing hands-on skills across motor rewind and repair work while building a strong foundation for a career in electrical engineering.
What did you do before your apprenticeship, and what made you choose to apply for this apprenticeship?
“When I left school, I knew straight away that an apprenticeship was what I wanted to do, so I started looking for one. Because it was during COVID, there weren’t many companies taking on apprentices at the time. While I was looking, I worked with my dad, for about a year in total, who works as a self-employed landscaper.
After that, I came across the apprenticeship at Bowers and decided to apply. Being from Heanor, I already knew the business and a few people who had worked here before, and they all spoke really highly of it as a place to work. It’s also in the engineering side of things, which is what I wanted to get into.”
What attracted you to an apprenticeship rather than the traditional academic route?
“I always knew I didn’t want to go down the traditional academic route, as I preferred more hands-on subjects and got on much better with them at school. I was the same outside of school, too. I’ve always enjoyed practical work and being hands-on.
I did do fairly well academically, but I knew I wanted to learn a practical skill, and an apprenticeship felt like the best way to do that.”
What does your typical day look like?
“My days are always quite varied depending on what work we’ve got on at the time. Normally, in the morning, I’ll come in and speak to Chris, the Motor and Rewinds Manager, to see what jobs we’ve got on and if there’s anything urgent that needs prioritising.
A lot of the time, I have to put certain jobs down and pick others up, so I need to be pretty flexible most days.”
Is there a particular project or job that you are most proud of?
“One of the highlights for me was going out on a site visit with Chris to a prestigious, highly rated customer, where we fitted six inverters, six motors and six German bearings for a cooling tower.
Going out on site is a really good way to see the real impact of the work we do and how it’s used by different businesses. Finishing those installation jobs is always really satisfying, especially seeing how happy and grateful the customer is once everything’s done.”
What’s something small at work that makes a difference to you or your day?
“Probably the people I work with. I get on really well with everyone, and they’re all easy to work with and really helpful. When it comes to learning, they’re exactly what you want. They’re supportive and always happy to help if I need it.
They’re all really experienced as well, which helps a lot because they’re always teaching me new things and helping me feel more confident in what I’m doing.”
What do you like to do with your time outside of work?
“I love football. I am a massive Forest fan. I go and watch them home and away whenever I can. I also love playing football. I don’t play as much as I used to as a kid, but I still enjoy playing whenever I can.”
Dayal joined Bowers Electricals in February 2023 and is currently completing a Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship, specialising in electrical and mechanical fitting. Based within the distribution transformer team, he is gaining hands-on experience fitting switchgear, refurbishing transformers, and supporting bespoke engineering projects.
What did you do before your apprenticeship, and what made you choose to apply for this apprenticeship?
“Before starting my apprenticeship, I attended sixth form, where I completed Level 3 Cambridge Technicals in IT and Business, along with A Level Computer Science. While studying, I realised I wanted a more hands-on career that allowed me to apply technical knowledge in a practical environment, which led me to apply for an engineering apprenticeship at Bowers Electricals.”
What attracted you to an apprenticeship rather than the traditional academic route?
“Although I enjoyed sixth form, I’ve always preferred learning through hands-on, practical experience rather than just in a classroom. An apprenticeship felt like the right next step, as it offered the opportunity to earn while learning, build real engineering skills, and gain day-to-day experience in a working environment.
It also meant I could see the direct results of my work on real industrial equipment, including transformers and switchgear, which made the learning far more engaging and rewarding.”
What does your typical day look like?
“A typical day can involve fitting switchgear to distribution transformers, carrying out refurbishment work, stripping down and rebuilding components. Every now and then, there will be bespoke jobs that I am trusted to fulfil, which allows me to improve my decomposing and problem-solving skills.
I also work from drawings and specifications, follow strict safety procedures, and learn from experienced engineers as part of the team.”
Is there a particular project or job that you are most proud of?
“One job I’m really proud of was a full transformer refurbishment that had to be completed within a one-week deadline. It meant good timekeeping, teamwork, and some overtime to make sure we got it finished on time.
What made it even more interesting was that the transformer was built in the 1980s, so it was older than me. Working on something that had been in service for that long gave me a real appreciation for how equipment was originally built and how important refurbishment work is.
The job involved de-tanking the transformer, carrying out running tests, putting it in the oven to remove moisture, re-tanking, fitting new HV and LV bushings, fitting new external cable boxes, filling it with new oil, completing a full external rewire including OTIs, WTIs and pressure relief devices, finishing with a full respray, and fixing any other issues found along the way.
Seeing it fully completed and knowing we’d met a tight deadline to a high standard was really satisfying and gave me a lot of confidence in my role.”
What’s something small at work that makes a difference to you or your day?
“At the end of a hard or long day or week, I get to put all my tools back, clean my area, remove the finished job from my area and have a fresh space to prepare for my next job.”
What do you like to do with your time outside of work?
“Outside of work, I enjoy keeping active, spending time with friends and family, going to the gym after an easy or hard day, or even going to play pool with some of my friends or colleagues. Having a good work-life balance helps me stay motivated and focused.”
Jake joined Bowers Electricals in May 2022 and is currently completing an Engineering Fitter Apprenticeship within our transformers department. With a title that he says is “definitely has more than meets the eye.” As our most experienced apprentice, he has developed strong mechanical and electrical skills while completing Level 3 diplomas in engineering operations and manufacturing engineering.
What did you do before your apprenticeship, and what made you choose to apply for this apprenticeship?
“Before Bowers, I completed an apprenticeship in plumbing and domestic heating. Following this, I continued to work in this sector for a couple of years before deciding I would benefit from learning new skills and potentially a new trade.
With this in mind, the best option was to undergo another apprenticeship. After seeing the advertisement for Bowers and doing some of my own research into the world of transformers, it’s safe to say I was sold instantly. This apprenticeship offered me the chance to learn a wide array of skills and knowledge within the engineering sector.”
What attracted you to an apprenticeship rather than the traditional academic route?
“For the majority of my academic life, I have always been a kinesthetic learner. The need to be physically hands-on as opposed to passive listening or reading. The apprenticeship scheme was something that was definitely tailored to my style of learning. Not to mention getting paid for it.”
What does your typical day look like?
“At Bowers, very few days are the same. From fitting high and low voltage switchgear to fabricating parts, the day-to-day life at Bowers is constantly a new challenge. I am also fortunate enough to be tasked with a high number of “bespoke” projects.”
Is there a particular project or job that you are most proud of?
“As mentioned, in my time at Bowers, I have been involved in some rather bespoke and big projects. Personally, my proudest job would have to be the successful refurbishment of an Intellivolt Smart Transformer. A bespoke transformer consisting of multiple sets of windings as well as fourth-generation solid-state voltage optimisation technology.
This project was without doubt a challenge, but one that came with great satisfaction when completed.”
What’s something small at work that makes a difference to you or your day?
“Something small at work that really makes a difference to my day-to-day life is the weekly planner board. This board has all the jobs that I have within the given week, allowing me to plan and structure my week as I see fit. It really helps with my planning and preparation, and ensuring jobs are completed on time.”
What do you like to do with your time outside of work?
“Outside of work, I tend to spend the majority of my time keeping active and fit. During the summer months, you can find me on the golf course or playing cricket. My active lifestyle away from Bowers definitely helps me at work when it comes to physically challenging tasks.”
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we’ve highlighted the experiences and progression of our apprentices across the business. From motor rewinds to distribution transformers, they all play an important role in keeping Bowers Electricals operating as it does, and each is a valued asset to their respective teams, departments, and to the company as a whole.
Apprenticeships have always been part of Bowers Electricals, and we have long recognised the importance of supporting young people at the start of their engineering careers. By combining hands-on experience with structured training, apprenticeships provide a strong foundation for long-term development. We are proud to have employees within the business today who began their careers as apprentices, demonstrating the lasting impact apprenticeships can have in shaping successful engineering careers. We are confident that apprentices will continue to play an important role across our business in the years to come.
