An electrical apprenticeship is one of the best routes into a skilled, respected career. We made this free online guide to help more young people understand the trade, prepare properly and take their first step with confidence.
We believe a young person's start in life should never come down to who they know. Good advice is often the missing piece, so we have put it in one place, for free. Use it to apply to a firm down the road or anywhere in the country, we are just glad to help you on your way.
Together, we give back.
Amy came to us as a career changer, after around twenty years in retail. She wrote to dozens of local firms asking for a chance, and we said yes. She started her JTL apprenticeship in 2018, when the firm was just two of us, was named JTL's National Apprentice of the Year in 2023, went on to become our electrical supervisor, and is now our electrical manager.
"Choosing to become an electrician is the best decision I've ever made."
Amy, Electrical Manager
You do not have to fit a certain mould to make a good electrician. If any of these sound like you, read on.
Still weighing it up? That is normal, and it is not a reason to rule yourself out. The more you read here, the clearer the picture gets.
If apprenticeships are new to you, or to your family, here are the questions people ask most.
Yes. An apprenticeship is a proper paid job from day one. You work alongside qualified electricians and learn on the job, while spending part of your time training with a college or provider.
Around four years to become a fully qualified electrician. It finishes with a practical assessment of your skills, known as the End-Point Assessment, or AM2.
A nationally recognised Level 3 qualification as an Installation and Maintenance Electrician. This is the main route towards becoming fully qualified and, with the right evidence, applying for an ECS Gold Card.
Often, yes. Beyond the apprenticeship itself, a good employer will help you go further. Some, including us, support apprentices to take extra qualifications such as the 18th Edition wiring regulations and the 2391 inspection and testing. It is well worth asking any employer whether they would support you with these, as they help you develop faster and stand out.
Most look for GCSE English and maths at grade 4, or you can work towards Functional Skills alongside the apprenticeship. A willing, reliable attitude matters just as much.
You can start from 16, and in England there is no upper age limit, so it suits school leavers and career changers alike. Funded routes are available for adults too.
No. Unlike university there are no tuition fees and no student loan. You earn a wage throughout and come out qualified, with no debt.
No two days are quite the same, but here is the shape of it.
One day a week, or in blocks, you are at college learning the theory behind the work. The rest of the time you are out earning and doing the real thing.
Qualifying is just the start. With experience, and often a bit more training, electricians move into a huge range of roles. Here are some of them:
You do not have to stop at qualifying. If you enjoy the academic side the route carries on, often without needing a traditional degree to get started, and with experience you can work up to degree and even master's level. One of our own directors is studying for a master's this way.
Although this guide is focused on electrical apprenticeships, it is worth knowing that apprenticeships are not only for people working on the tools.
Many businesses also offer apprenticeships in areas such as business administration, customer service, finance, marketing, HR and project support. These roles can be a brilliant route into the workplace for young people who are organised, good with people, interested in how a business runs, or not sure that site work is the right path for them.
At Goodridge Electrical Contractors Ltd, we have also supported office-based apprenticeships, including business administration, because every part of a company matters. The people in the office, on the phones, managing paperwork, helping customers and supporting projects are just as important to keeping a business running properly.
The main advice is the same: be polite, be interested, prepare a simple CV, and, where possible, make the first contact yourself.
For a lot of people, this is the part that makes up their mind.
Worth saying plainly: you can come out of an apprenticeship qualified, experienced and earning, with no debt at all. For many people, that is the strongest reason to take a serious look at the trade.
Most applications fall down on the same few basics. Here is everything you need to get right, whichever employer you apply to.
Remember: a tidy, polite message and a one-page CV already put you ahead of most people who get in touch. It is worth taking your time over it.
Most guides tell you what to write. Here is what an employer is really thinking when your message lands.
Grades matter less than you might think. A reliable, willing person who turns up and wants to learn will get our attention over a flawless CV every time. So if you are worried you are not much on paper, do not be.
How you get in touch says as much about you as what you say. A little thought here goes a long way.
It is normal to feel nervous picking up the phone or hitting send. Employers know that. What they remember is the young person who made the effort to get in touch themselves.
A model first email you can copy, and a one-page CV you can fill in. Swap the parts in [ brackets ] for your own details.
Dear [ name ],
My name is [ your name ] and I have just finished my GCSEs at [ school ]. I am very keen to start an electrical apprenticeship and I am writing to ask whether you have any openings.
I live in [ town ], about [ X ] miles from you, and I can get to work by [ bus, lift or bike ]. I enjoy practical, hands-on work, I am reliable and I am keen to learn. My GCSE results are [ grades, including English and maths ].
I have attached my CV. I would be very grateful for the chance to come in and meet you.
Thank you for your time.
Best wishes,
[ your name ] · [ phone number ]
A simple Word document with prompts to fill in. Open it, replace the grey text with your own details, and you have a tidy CV ready to send.
Download the CV template (Word)No Word at home? You can write or edit your CV for free in your web browser with Google Docs (free with a Google account) or Microsoft Word for the web (free with a Microsoft account). Both will open this template. If you would rather install a program, LibreOffice is free too.
If you are under 18, it is a good idea to ask a parent, carer, teacher or careers adviser to help you check your CV and first message before sending it.
Myth: “Apprenticeships are for people who aren't academic.”
Truth: they are a smart, competitive route chosen by people who learn best by doing. You qualify with real experience and no debt.
Myth: “It's all just rewiring houses.”
Truth: the work is hugely varied, from big commercial and industrial projects to renewables, data and control systems.
Myth: “University is the only path to a good career.”
Truth: a trade is a skilled, respected career for life. Many go on into management, design and engineering roles.
Most first meetings are relaxed. Expect a friendly chat about you and why you are interested, often a look around the workshop or a site, and sometimes a short hands-on task or a trial day. What counts most is your attitude, so here is how to make a good impression:
The trade is full of letters and short names that nobody explains. Here is what the common ones actually mean.
Trusted, independent places to learn more, find live vacancies and get free careers advice.
The government service to search and apply for live apprenticeship vacancies near you.
Careers advice built by the electrical industry, covering apprenticeships, training routes and qualifications.
Free, official careers advice for the electrician role, plus help with your CV and interviews.
A major work-based learning provider delivering the Level 3 electrical apprenticeship across England and Wales.
The Electrical Contractors' Association, the trade body for the electrical industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
One of the main bodies that assesses and certifies electrical work to recognised standards in the UK.
We have created this guide to sit alongside official sources, not replace them. Always check current apprenticeship information through GOV.UK, training providers and recognised industry bodies.
An apprenticeship is a paid job with training built in, so the first step is finding an employer. Here is how to get started.
Search live vacancies on the government's Find an Apprenticeship service, and set up alerts for your area.
Approach local electrical firms directly, with a short, polite message and a one-page CV (use the templates above).
Ask training providers, such as JTL, which employers near you are taking on apprentices.
Speak to a careers adviser at your school or college, or the National Careers Service.
An apprenticeship is a strong, respected route, not a fallback. Your young person earns from day one, trains to a national standard and finishes qualified with no debt. It is one of the surest ways into a career that will always be in demand.
Please use this guide freely with your students, print it, link to it or hand it out. We are also happy to come in and talk to young people about apprenticeships and life in the trade. Get in touch through the Foundation at [email protected].
There is also a ready-made poster you can print and put up on a noticeboard.
Download the poster (PDF)You are welcome to share or quote this guide. "We see too many young people who are interested in the trade but simply do not know where to start. This guide is our way of putting clear, honest advice in one place and helping them take that first step." Steve Goodridge, Founder of The Goodridge Foundation. For media enquiries, contact [email protected] or call 0333 0143 974.