• Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments
• Tuesday May 21 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Heating firm welcomes 20th apprentice in its 20th year

A Wiltshire plumbing and heating company has welcomed its 20th apprentice as it celebrates its 20th year.

18-year-old Charlie Thomas from Melksham joined John Williams Heating Services as a trainee heating engineer.

Charlie said: “I always knew I wanted to go into a trade after I finished school, and I heard that John and Debbie’s apprenticeship takes you from nothing to a fully qualified gas engineer with a lot of effort from yourself.

“I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone that likes getting their hands dirty, especially if you want some independence after leaving school, and some money too.”

His course is linked with Wiltshire College at the Trowbridge site and since starting with the company, Charlie has already experienced many different situations.

“It’s going well and I’m enjoying it. The best part is that every job is different, you’re learning new stuff each time. I’m learning pretty much everything there is to know, and I’ve been so overloaded with information, which is both fun and difficult at the same time,” Charlie said.

“In a tricky situation on a job, I’ve learned to always ask for advice as the engineers are good at explaining how and why something has happened while treating you as an equal.”

John and Debbie Williams started their company in 2004 and since then have always embraced apprenticeships as John was an apprentice himself.

“I’ve always valued hiring apprentices, training them and giving them opportunities. Apprenticeships are an important part of learning a trade and indeed valuable in many professions. Charlie has been a good addition to the team and is settling in well,” John said.

Charlie says he hopes to carry on, become fully qualified and continue working in the business.

Debbie said: “Apprenticeships are such an important part of our business, we are helping to secure the pipeline of the future, with excellent well trained engineers.”