Then COVID arrived just as he finished college. With theatres closed and few opportunities available, Reece completed his Level 2 independently to complement his production arts experience. He then started looking for an opportunity to continue his training through an apprenticeship.
Learning the trade in the real world
One of the things that surprised Reece was just how much there is behind electrical work.
As he puts it, from the outside it can look like little more than connecting the right wires. The reality involves far more design, calculations and technical understanding than he expected.
“There’s a lot of design and calculations that you have to do.”
His training has covered electrical science and design, including calculating loads, cable sizes and designing circuits to meet different requirements.
But for Reece, it’s combining that theory with what happens on a real site that makes the apprenticeship particularly valuable.
“Learning in theory and learning in practice are two very different things.”
A cable route might look straightforward on a drawing. Once you’re on site, there could be something in the way, access might be restricted or the original plan might simply not work.
Plenty of variety
Working with Prolec has given Reece experience across a broad mix of commercial electrical work, and across some very different environments – from modern commercial sites to well-known historic buildings.
For an apprentice, that variety creates plenty of opportunities to learn.
“Each day is a little bit different. Even going back to the same sites, it never feels like you’re just doing the same things.”
His day-to-day work also contributes directly towards his apprenticeship, including the required off-the-job learning hours and the skills he will need to demonstrate for his NVQ.
Learning from the people around you
Access to interesting projects is only part of the experience. Having the right people around you to learn from matters too.
Reece works alongside experienced electricians who can share the practical knowledge that comes from years on site – including the tips, shortcuts and different ways of approaching a problem that aren’t necessarily found in a textbook.
“You might think, ‘we can’t do it this way’, but someone who’s been doing it for a while will know another way of doing it.”
As his own experience has grown, that exchange is becoming two-way, with Reece increasingly able to contribute his own ideas when the team is working through a problem.
And it’s not only the technical knowledge he values about working with the team.
Some jobs are harder than others and things don’t always go to plan.
“Having a good team around you to work through the problem and keep things moving makes those days a lot easier.”
For Reece, that’s a big part of why he enjoys working at Prolec: the work is varied, but it’s the people around him who make the difference.
Getting that first opportunity
Reece is a strong advocate for the apprenticeship route, but he’s also open about one of the hardest parts: getting an apprenticeship in the first place.
Before joining Prolec, he spent a long time applying for apprentice electrician roles, often without hearing anything back.
It was frustrating and, at times, disheartening.
His advice to anyone going through the same process is simple:
“Don’t give up or be dissuaded when searching for jobs. Keep applying, keep looking and persevere until you find the employer prepared to give you the opportunity to learn.”
So, what comes next?
Reece is now working towards completing his NVQ, demonstrating his competence across different types of electrical installation, testing, isolation and containment work.
The range of work he’s involved in at Prolec means much of that experience is being built naturally as part of his day-to-day role.
Once the NVQ is complete, the next milestone is his final practical assessment and, ultimately, becoming a fully qualified electrician.
For us at Prolec, bringing apprentices through the company is about giving people the opportunity to learn the trade properly – combining formal training with varied, hands-on experience and the support of people who have been doing the job for years.
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