Published: Wednesday 09th February 2022 | 11.07am
An established electrical contracting business in Rugeley is calling on other businesses to take on an apprentice and get the funding on offer to help.
Connect Midlands Ltd received a £5,000 grant from the Staffordshire Means Back to Business initiative which brings together funding from the county council and all the borough and district councils in the county.
Owner Stuart Dawson, who started himself as an apprentice 35 years ago, used the grant to kit-out and support the wages of 18-year-old Mitch Chadwick.
He said: “It’s all about Mitch’s attitude. I started as an apprentice 35 years ago myself, but I wasn’t in a position to take him on a couple of years ago when I wanted to.
But now Mitch has been with us a year and is up for anything and gets stuck in. He’s a great asset to the company and personally, it’s great to shape the next generation of electricians. Businesses shouldn’t be nervous about the commitment with taking on an apprentice– it is absolutely worth it and now’s the time to get a grant to help.”
Mitch, from Rugeley, studies one day a week at Stafford College to become a fully qualified electrician, working and learning with Stuart the rest of the week.
“It’s a great job and I’m sticking where I am after training. I even asked if I could work for free so that Mitch could take me on – but I’m paid a fair wage while I’m learning as well.”
Mitch is one of the apprentices working in small businesses across Staffordshire that have so far been supported by a Staffordshire Means Back to Business apprenticeship grant.
Philip White, deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Apprentices bring great ideas and energy to the businesses, and there’s never been a better time to take on an apprentice right now with the grant funding available. It’s a great way to grow the skills you need whilst being supported financially.”
Councillor Olivia Lyons, Leader of Cannock Chase Council said “Helping small businesses to recover and grow from the pandemic is a key priority, so joining with the county council in the Staffordshire Means Back to Business initiative means we can help more businesses than ever before. Mitch is a great example of the fantastic local apprentices that we have in Staffordshire and how critical they are to small businesses.”
Grants and loans for growth, training and supporting apprentices are available to small businesses right across Staffordshire. More information about Staffordshire Means Back to Business grants are available at https://bit.ly/StaffsMeansBackToBusiness with up to £5,000 to support apprentices available via https://bit.ly/AnApprenticeForLess