The South West Schools Challenge Day
Taking a look at this scheme to help school pupils understand the opportunities available to them through apprenticeships.
As well as managing a successful electrical contracting firm in the South West; P & R Hurt Electrical & Mechanical Services, Paul and Rita Hurt also run a privately owned training centre taking on JTL apprentices P & R Hurt Education & Training. As if this were not enough to keep them busy, Paul and Rita have developed an annual event; The Schools Challenge Day, now in its third year. An exciting initiative in the South West region, the purpose of the day is to educate local school pupils, teachers and careers officers on the opportunities open to them in the apprenticeship framework.
Groups of pupils from schools in the area are invited to attend the day-long event where they compete against each other on a number of team events. Each challenge aims to encourage the pupils to think and stimulate interest in apprenticeships.
JTL’s regional manager in the South West, Ray Leonard says: “Paul and Rita are a real inspiration. They clearly have a passion for the industry and want to pass on their knowledge and expertise to build a motivated and skilled workforce of the future in our region.”
Paul says: “Accessing quality youngsters, keen to join the industry is difficult. We want to make more young people aware of the opportunities to earn and learn, encouraging them to pursue a career in the industry. Being a privately owned training centre, we are up against the competition of FE colleges so we had to think of a bright idea to get young people and employers in the area on board and we think the Schools Challenge Day brings a different way of thinking to the task of raising interest among potential candidates.”
What’s involved in the day?
Five local schools are invited to send a team of five pupils to the training centre in Yeovil for a day of competitive fun, while learning about electrical apprenticeships and a career in the industry. Held in school time the day has a deep educational focus as the students are asked to take part in a variety of interactive tasks and exercises that fit with all areas of the curriculum including; science, maths as well as teaching social interaction and working as part of a team.
A full introduction to the day is given as well as a health and safety briefing for the day, another very important part of working in the industry. All the challenges set are based around science and the world of work in the electrical industry.
The tasks
Paul and Rita have devised a range of challenges, each lasting an hour, whereby the pupils can demonstrate their ability to problem solve, show leadership but also work as a team. They include:
- building an electric motor;
- building an electric generator;
- basic wiring systems using a hollow board;
- wiring a lighting circuit;
- using internet research to devise a timeline charting key events in the history of electricity from prehistoric times to future from Thomas Edison and the light bulb, James Watt and the steam engine, through to smart homes and technologies of the future.
The future
Last year’s Schools Challenge Day was so popular that it is now being run over two days.
Paul says: “There is the problem of demand outstripping supply, this is a costly event for us but we feel it is worth the investment. We’re going to keep to two days at this stage but eventually hope to set up an online project that schools will be asked to complete to qualify to attend the day. That way we know we’re targeting the right students.
He concludes: “We are always amazed at what those youngsters can produce, it’s a rewarding and inspiring day, and we’re delighted with its success and hope it will continue to go from strength to strength.”
JTL is the leading training provider to the building services engineering sector and offers Advanced Apprenticeships in electrical installation, plumbing and engineering maintenance.
JTL is a local company with a national reach and operates in 10 regions across England and Wales: North West, North East, York & Humberside, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, East, London, South East and South West.
