Apprenticeship Case Study - Reece Jones from Novus Property Solutions

Name: Reece Jones 
Age: 21
PM Training apprenticeship: NVQ Level 2 Maintenance Operations & NVQ Level 2 Painting and Decorating 
Year of completion: 2017

How has PM Training helped you in your career?

Whilst studying with PM Training, I adopted transferable skills that have helped me achieve a great standard of work both in the classroom and on site. By learning a broad spectrum of techniques within the trade, I have gained first-hand knowledge of how the industry works which I feel sets me aside from others my age.

Not only have I furthered my understanding of the building trade as a whole, my confidence and social skills have grown massively, qualities which I feel made me employable when leaving college. 

What did you enjoy about your time with PM Training?

I loved the atmosphere at PM Training and the enthusiasm all the staff brought to the subjects. I felt there was always a buzz about it, especially when on site.

Whilst at college, the teachers became our mentors and if I ever had any questions, they always went out of their way to help. The staff teaching us were relatable because many had been through the same journey that we were only just embarking on.   

What was the best thing about being an apprentice?

My apprenticeship has without a doubt helped me advance my professional skills and progress towards a career in maintenance. At PM Training we were always treated as equals by staff and there was always a great atmosphere, especially when working on site. I found the fact we learnt about the trade whilst putting it to use invaluable and this gave me a real taste for the job itself.

I found a major advantage of doing an apprenticeship was being surrounded by professionals in the exact field you are studying and this is one of the main things that attracted me to the course. I also felt my apprenticeship gave me great independence and the idea of getting paid whilst learning was extremely rewarding.

Explain your day to day role now?

I am now working for award-winning maintenance company, Novus Property Solutions, carrying out a variety of multi-skilled work. Novus deliver industry-leading projects which I have loved being a part of. I am currently working on site at Manchester NHS which involves putting the skills I learnt at PM Training into practice and trialling different techniques to see which one best suits the job.

How has your employer helped you in your career?

Novus has played a massive part in helping me start my career by giving me the opportunity to continue to gain knowledge and experience whilst on the job. They have also given me the opportunity to take part in various competitions across the country which has put my skills to good practice and helped boost my confidence.

Where do you see your career progressing in the future?

Over the next few years I see myself gaining more experience and knowledge on site in the hope to eventually progress and become a site manager or contract manager. This is quite a common path for people in my field to go down and a series of additional training courses can be done along the way to speed up the process.

What advice would you give to other young people looking at doing an apprenticeship?

I found that gaining hands-on experience was invaluable meaning an apprenticeship was definitely the best option for me. I would advise people to explore all avenues if they are unsure what to do after leaving school as it’s a big decision that should be made carefully.

Doing an apprenticeships is hard work and long hours so it’s important to be aware of that before signing up, however the benefits are extremely rewarding.

I personally think doing an apprenticeship was the best thing I did since leaving school as it’s a great option if you want hands on experience in the building or maintenance trade.