National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) aims to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. NAPIT says that it understands that for apprentices joining the industry, it’s essential they are equipped with the right skills and support.
Celebrated annually, this National Apprenticeship Week 2025, which runs from 10-16 February, enters its 18th year and the theme for this year is ‘Skills For Life’.
Callum Tickner is the Facilities Maintenance Apprentice at NAPIT. The 28-year-old began his apprenticeship journey at the company in September 2024 after seeking a new opportunity.
“It’s been a really good experience, you get to learn how the company works,” he says.
“With the college side you learn the basics and build on your skills, but the best part of doing an apprenticeship is you get the hands-on experience as well as the theory side of it.”
Callum was previously an electrical tester on trains. He unfortunately got laid off in March last year. He adds, “I tried to re-find myself in a different career path. I was working on trains and I wanted to still be on the tools.
“It’s a big change working at NAPIT – you come in and you don’t know what to expect. I do the property maintenance, I change the taps, build desks and chairs for the office as well as the upkeep of the building.
“I have been able to use a lot of different tools that I’ve never used before and learned the process of how to do things properly.”
Six months into his apprenticeship, Callum reflects on what has been one of his proudest achievements so far when he was involved in the production of a solar PV rig.
“I thought that was quite interesting. It’s a frame that was built, we did all of the roof tiling for that rig then we mounted solar panels to that as well. It was quite cool, I’d never thought I’d be able to do something like that.
“I work with power tools and different materials, MDF and steel. It’s been nice to learn a lot of different skills and how to use different tools, a lot of my apprenticeship is to do with the training rigs at NAPIT.”
Explaining his involvement in building the rigs, he continues, “It’s pretty much from the ground up, from building the frames themselves, painting the MDF and mounting and wiring the components.
“It’s been eye opening and has given me a good insight into how it all works. After we have built it, it will be tested and then we will PAT test it. Then it will either go to a college or showroom, we have loads of different orders.”
As well as working with apprentices at its head office, NAPIT works with a number of colleges and organisations in the UK through its initiative NAPIT Foundation, supporting apprentices, students and lecturers.
Stephen Melton, Commercial and Compliance Director at NAPIT says, “We are pleased to be able to support National Apprenticeship Week which shines a light on the wide range of opportunities available to people considering an apprenticeship.
“It’s important that training, upskilling or potentially new careers in different sectors are available to the new generation of workers and those looking for different challenges.
“Apprenticeships will also play a vital part in our members ability to help government reach its intended net zero targets over the coming years, which is something all of us here at NAPIT are working towards.”