JTL opens £1m Thames Valley electrical training centre

Leading apprenticeship provider JTL has opened its new Thames Valley training centre following a £1 million investment to expand electrical training in the region.

The flagship facility was formally opened by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, during a visit, during which she met apprentices, employers and industry partners.

Baroness Smith said: “Apprenticeships are central to our mission to grow the economy and equip people with the skills they need to succeed, and it was fantastic to meet the young apprentices at JTL’s new Thames Valley training centre.

“This is the kind of dynamic, hands-on environment which will help us produce the skilled workforce of the future – in this case one which will help deliver our housing ambitions and accelerate our transition to clean energy.”

The refurbished centre features a dedicated electrical workshop, classrooms, breakout areas and space for End Point Assessment preparation.

It will train around 200 apprentices a year, supporting the growth of the electrical workforce.

During the visit, Baroness Smith saw apprentices in action – including those training in solar and wind farm technologies – and met Freya Taylor, the Western region winner of JTL’s Regional Rising Star Award.

She also spoke with employers, including Bojen Electrical, Haysham Electrical Contractors, Darke & Taylor and Lowe and Oliver, about how to encourage more SMEs to take on apprentices.

Alongside the main centre, JTL has invested £250,000 in a new eight-bay AM2 Assessment Centre to reduce waiting times for critical industry assessments.

Waiting times for a first AM2 assessment in some parts of the country currently stand at up to seven months.

Chris Claydon, chief executive of JTL, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Skills Minister to JTL’s new Thames Valley centre and to see her officially declare it open.

“This facility represents a major investment in the future of our industry, training around 200 apprentices each year and reinforcing JTL’s unwavering commitment to delivering the highest-quality apprenticeships.

“As the UK looks to drive economic growth and deliver on its infrastructure ambitions, the need for skilled electricians has never been greater.

“Dedicated training centres like this are critical to building the workforce required to power that growth.

“The creation of an AM2 assessment centre at this facility is another significant step forward.

“With demand high across the country, this will help more electricians complete their qualifications more quickly, supporting productivity and ensuring businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need.”