‘The Apprentice’ themed initiative for construction industry launches amid skills and labour shortages

Inspired by the hit TV gameshow, The Apprentice, the hunt is on for Britain’s first building trades entrepreneur superstar in plumbing, heating, or electrics, thanks to a new competition from Logic4training, a leading building services training course provider. 

With over £18,000 worth of accredited trades training courses up for grabs, one lucky candidate at the end of the process will receive substantial support to start their own building trades business – including their own website, Checkatrade membership, and a lifetime of training in plumbing, heating, or electrics.

The brainchild of Logic4training’s Founder & Managing Director, Kevin Budd, the competition will see the lucky winning candidate receive substantial support to set up their own trades business – but to win the lucky candidate will have to beat their peers in a challenging process, which includes a task on social media, and a face-to-face boardroom interview with Logic4training’s Founder and fellow judges.

With a recent poll claiming that nearly two-fifths of young people would currently not consider a career in construction, the competition is designed to help rebrand the plumbing, electrics, and heating trades as a more exciting career option. Seventy-five per cent of contractors are also having issues recruiting skilled operatives, according to a recent survey.

Logic4training’s Kevin Budd commented: “The search is on for the first tradesperson entrepreneur superstar. This really is an incredible opportunity for a young person or career changer to set themselves up as a rising star in plumbing, heating, or electrics. With the building trades struggling to recruit skilled workers, we are hoping to show people that trade careers can be very rewarding, exciting, and lucrative.”

What do they win?

The training will start with an entry-level programme in their chosen field, followed by annual training credit vouchers so that the winner can choose how they wish to progress in their chosen trade, or even upskill future employees if they decide to start their own business.

The entry-level courses, which are worth up to £7,995, cover all the qualifications and experience needed to become a plumbing & heating engineer or domestic electrician, as well as everything required to start a successful business, such as 12- months’ free Checkatrade membership and website design and build.

Once qualified as a plumber, gas engineer or domestic electrician (the new entrants’ programmes take around two-years to complete) the lucky tradesperson entrepreneur superstar will be able to choose additional courses – for themselves or other employees – to the value of £1,000 annually.

More than enough to keep mandatory Gas ACS up to date or upskill into new areas such as air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging, on-going training will ensure the winner is able to continually progress and evolve their business.

Who can apply?

Open to anyone 18 years old or over with a desire to enter the building services sector – a growing market, which includes renewable technologies like heat pumps – the competition and prize is suitable for people with no previous experience, such as college leavers or career changers. Logic4training has centres in Northolt, Basildon, Luton, and Sittingbourne, so the winner must be able to easily commute to one of these locations.

Budd continued: “What Logic4training is looking for is someone with drive, ambition, and a desire to make a name for themselves. The winner will be savvy on social media and not shy in-front of a camera. They’ll be up for having their training journey documented and will be keen to share their own experience of the courses they undertake to help illustrate how exciting working in the building’s trades can be. This truly is a life-changing opportunity that will set someone up on a rewarding career path in an industry that will always be in-demand.”

How to enter:

Logic4training needs to find a worthy winner; someone with the right attitude, aptitude in practical skills, and ability to shine on social media.

Step 1: Put together and post a reel for Instagram or TikTok, explaining why you should win. We want to see your drive, your interest in your chosen area, and your personality. Creativity is encouraged! The video needs to include:

• A bit about why you want to train in the trades, what interests you, and why you think you would be an asset to the building trades industries.
• A bit about you, including your age, interests, what you are currently doing for work. What are your ambitions? What interests you? What are you currently doing? Why would you be a good addition to the industry?
• Tag @Logic4training and use the hashtag #trades4life

All stories must be uploaded by 13 February.

Step 2: From these videos we will put together a shortlist. This will be announced through Logic4training’s social media platforms.

Everyone in the shortlist will then be asked to fill in a more detailed application form.

Step 3: Logic4training will pick a final shortlist for interview. This will be conducted online or at your closest Logic4training centre.

The winner will be chosen during this round.

Step 4: The winner will embark on their chosen new-entrants programme. We will be following their journey closely, sharing video content online and encouraging them to do the same.

Once completed, the winner will receive up to £1,000 worth of training vouchers for the next 10 years, which can be used by them or other employees. We are looking for someone who will continue to share their training and business journey, tagging in Logic4training along the way.

Training vouchers cannot be rolled over, so if £700 is spent on training, for example, the remaining £300 will be wiped at the end of the year. Logic4training will consider rolling over the whole voucher for two years (or more) if the winner wishes to put another employee through a new entrants’ programme.

To enter, visit: https://www.logic4training.co.uk/insights/win-a-lifetime-of-training/