CPW has welcomed 16 new recruits onto its 2023 apprenticeship programme, which is being delivered in partnership with regional colleges to train the next generation.

Established more than 22 years ago, 17% of CPW's workforce is currently part of the programme thanks to its commitment to bridging the skills gap and taking on apprentices in all levels of education, including mature students, as well as those already in work.

This year's trainees have joined the Birmingham, Derby, Leicester, Huntingdon, Nottingham, and Solihull offices, and includes specialised apprentices in the lighting, public health, and HR teams – a first for the firm as it looks to diversify its offering.

CPW is dedicated to developing young people and its record speaks for itself with the apprenticeship programme producing more than 150 young engineers in the past ten years – many of whom have progressed into senior roles at the company.

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Melissa Sarson, training and development coordinator at CPW, said: "The whole team really buys into the apprenticeship programme and everyone understands the importance of learning, as well as what young individuals can offer. I think that is part of what makes our programme so unique – not only do we offer a well-rounded technical apprenticeship with plenty of training and support but we hire people for the whole journey, not just through the early stages of their careers.

"I'm also really pleased that our programme has diversified into specialised areas this year. It is a marker of how well the lighting, public health, and HR teams are doing, and it means we have a more varied range of apprenticeships on offer.

"We're really proud of our programme and take our responsibility of shaping the country’s engineering future seriously. It’s therefore great to welcome our 2023 cohort and I wish them the best of luck as they begin their careers."

Ryan Beary, a trainee electrical design engineer based in CPW’s Birmingham office, recently came runner up at the CIBSE Apprentice of the Year Awards in the Level 3-4 category.

He said: "We've spent the last six weeks in rotation, meeting new people and opening up opportunities. I’ve particularly enjoyed that we’re exposed to other disciplines and the fundamentals of each role – it gives a really well-rounded experience and will help later down the line.

"I'm quickly learning that it's a career that has a lot of value – I was drawn to CPW’s push for net zero carbon as making a difference in the world really spoke to me. However, the social aspect and working with various teams has also been amazing – I'd definitely recommend an engineering apprenticeship to anyone considering it."