In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with Electrical Apprentice Elis Matthews. Now approaching the finish line, Elis reflects on his journey, sharing his progress and achievements and how practical, on-the-job training has helped progress his career in electrical engineering.
For Elis, electrical engineering runs in the family. Inspired by both his father and brother, he’s carved out his own path within the industry. His day-to-day role is technical and fast-paced, leading emergency light testing and diagnostics, ensuring a smooth handover to his fellow engineers, Paul and Jordan, for any necessary repairs. Elis tells us more:
Why I chose an apprenticeship
I knew I wanted to progress in a trade, and I realised that getting a formal qualification was the best way to do that. An apprenticeship allowed me to learn on the job while working toward my future.
How I’ve grown
The journey has helped me both at work and in my personal life. I’ve become much more confident as a person. Professionally, I’ve learned how to communicate better and solve problems on my own. It has also given me a real sense of responsibility for the work I do.
Support from my team
My mentors and colleagues have been a huge help. They didn’t just tell me what to do; they showed me different ways to handle tasks. By instructing me on various methods, they helped me find the way of working that I’m most comfortable with.
My progress and achievements
I feel more prepared for my role every day. My proudest achievement is becoming more competent in my trade. I enjoy the process of learning something new every single day and seeing my skills improve as time goes on.
My advice to others
If you are thinking about starting an apprenticeship, my advice is simple: Work hard and stay committed. It takes effort, but it is worth it to build your career.
Recently, Elis has been working on remedial electrical works, including fault finding, fixing emergency lighting units, replacing defective emergency lights, and assisting with the testing of emergency lighting systems.
Electrical and Compliance Manager, Tony Davenport, commented:
“Over the past year, Elis has significantly developed his understanding of maintenance tasks, fault diagnosis, and the importance of compliant emergency lighting systems. Throughout this period, he has consistently worked safely and adhered to site procedures while gaining invaluable practical experience in both repair and testing activities.
We are incredibly proud to have Elis on our team and rooting for him as he awaits his apprenticeship results this February and look forward to watching him thrive here at Riverside.”
On behalf of the entire Riverside team, we’d like to wish Elis the best of luck as he receives his results this month. We look forward to his bright future ahead and are proud to support his ongoing professional journey.
Want to join a supportive, forward-thinking team? Explore our current vacancies and apply today!
