Training for the future
Commitment to training is a vital element of BGC´s success in providing high quality work and in attracting and retaining customers.
The company currently has five apprentices on their books – three second year students and two first year - who study at Stoke on Trent College.
All are on three-year Gas Installation and Maintenance Advanced Apprenticeship courses at the College´s Centre of Vocational Excellence (COVE) at Burslem Campus.
The apprentices attend college every Thursday to learn new skills, while their first hand experience of the job is enhanced by accompanying fully-qualified BGC engineers on jobs.
Steve Wright, Principal Contracts Manager, said: "At BGC we are committed to training and investing in the future. The apprenticeship scheme means we are tailoring people to the way we want the job done. The apprentices know our expectations and know our working practices and the level of performance we adhere to. So when they are fully qualified they have already got to grips with the way we work and this benefits them and the customers who they are providing the service for."
He added: "We have a very good relationship with the college and strong links with the lecturers there. The apprenticeship scheme is something we are looking to continue into the future working in partnership with the college."
BGC is also committed to ensuring all engineers have the relevant and up to date qualifications in order to do their job.
Since 1999 it has been a legal requirement that all engineers working on commercial and industrial national gas appliances must pass the Accredited Certificate Scheme (ACS) in order to be Corgi registered. This accreditation also has to be renewed every five years to ensure best practice and the latest quality and safety techniques are being adhered to.
Steve added: "We ensure all our engineers have the up to date ACS accreditation and ensure that anyone we recruit or sub contract out to have the relevant qualifications too."
College lecturer Neil Booth said: "We have an excellent working relationship with BGC and it is great to see a company so dedicated to the training of its young recruits."
