Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with Brookes Bell

This year marks the fourteenth year of National Apprenticeship Week and the theme for 2021 focuses on how apprentices and employers are working to ‘Build The Future’. Working with Brookes Bell, we’re exploring the positive impact of apprentices on their business as we celebrate the recruitment of their first Engineering Apprentice with The Engineering College. 

About Brookes Bell

Brookes Bell is an engineering, scientific and technical consultancy predominantly based in the marine and energy sectors.  We have been operating as a surveying and expert witness consultancy for over 100 years, but recently opened a new laboratory and technical centre in Bidston where we have fuel testing, NDT and metallurgical testing services.  In addition to our lab work, we are also equipped for in situ site work.

What impact do apprentices make to your company? 

We have taken on our first apprentice (Ben) as part of our new laboratory service.  However, we are keen to take on more.  Given the specialised nature of our services, it is not always easy to find the right expertise from conventional recruitment alone and we are now looking to develop a route of in house training and structured training through the college which will enable our apprentices to get the right blend of expertise.

How have apprentices helped your business throughout the pandemic?

We are just in the early stages of returning to site and getting up and running.  We have been continuing to work during the latest lockdown, as we need to be close to our specialist kit to do our work.  Our new apprentice has been on site with us, helping us through our first stages as a new unit.

What is a benefit of employing an apprentice? 

Apprenticeships are a new opportunity for us.  I’m hoping it will provide a new outlook and routes of training and employment opportunities within Brookes Bell going forward.  I see this as a good opportunity for the apprentices too – although we would envision them being with us for a while, the unique practical and technical skills they gain with us should assist them in their future careers.

Visit brookesbell.com/ for more information