Morrison Utility Services invests 1,000 training hours in its workforce of the future

Morrison Utility Services’ Executive Director, Adam Gosnold, goes ‘back to the floor’ for National Apprenticeship Week

Morrison Utility Services, the leading utility services provider in the UK, is investing over 1,000 hours in training each and every one of its apprentices - its workforce of the future. 

Spread across the UK, the company’s apprentices are working towards a number of qualifications from Installing Electro Technical Systems to Gas Network Operations and Motor Vehicle Maintenance.  In addition, each apprentice receives training via short courses for a range of workplace qualifications from first aid to working in confined spaces amounting to potentially one new qualification achieved every three months.

Morrison Utility Services’ investment in apprentices recognises the challenges presented by an ageing field-based workforce.  In addition, apprenticeships offer a practical, well structured career path to attract young people into the utilities industry.  Training offered to apprentices is a mix of classroom-based technical study via a training provider mixed with practical on the job training. 

Morrison Utility Services’ Mechanical and Electrical Apprentice, Sam Lovell, says:

“Being an apprentice means learning and earning.  You are always learning and picking up skills and people are really happy to help and give you the benefit of their experience.  There is always something new each day and it doesn’t get much better than that!”

Adam Gosnold, Executive Director, Morrison Utility Services, says:

“Apprenticeships make good business sense.  Our experience is showing that we are gaining not only qualified but practically experienced people who can fit into our teams and become assets to our business. 

“The utilities industry is facing a gap as qualified, highly-skilled staff approach retirement and prepare to leave the industry.  Our response over the last few years has been to address this issue as a responsible employer as we have a duty to attract, support and develop a younger generation for the benefit of the industry as a whole.”

Mike Bialyj, Director of Employer Services, CITB-ConstructionSkills said:

“Our research shows that more than a quarter (29%) of construction businesses in the UK reduced their training activity in 2011, and 1 in 5 were planning to scale back training even further this year. So it is particularly refreshing to see that Morrison Utility Services is bucking the trend and making the investment in support of recruitment and retention of young workers.

“Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of this industry, and training and skills make absolute business sense. This has clearly been recognised and acted upon, and the benefits to both the young recruits and to Morrison Utility Services are clear to see. We view this commitment to training as absolute best practice.”