06.02.2023

National Apprenticeship Week: Empowering the next generation of Facilities Management talent

By Kate Large, Director of Learning & Development, Mitie

Now more than ever, the Government and businesses alike are intent on driving higher and more sustainable growth for Britain. The speed and success of these plans rely almost entirely on the presence of a skilled workforce – making it imperative that we address the looming skills challenge, so it doesn’t slow us down.

The FM industry employs many of these essential frontline workers, not least the thousands of engineering, IT, decarbonisation, and telecoms experts who help keep Britain running thanks to the services they provide. Their skills are vital for the roll-out of services across new industries, such as 5G networks, solar power, and electric vehicle infrastructure, which are under growing pressure to meet rising demand. But how will we ensure there is enough young talent entering the workforce in time to replace those who are preparing for retirement? In one of our own business areas – telecoms – the average age of a field engineer is 54, which highlights the urgent need to train more young people.

This National Apprenticeship Week is an important time to reflect on the new opportunities that are unlocked by apprenticeships every day. One of Mitie’s shining stars, Jamie-Lee, had previously worked in an administrative role within a bank, but dreamed of a career in engineering, where she could work away from a desk in a more challenging environment. She likes getting stuck in and solving problems, and now, in her role as a Fire & Safety Systems Engineer at Mitie, she can do just that, traveling from site to site each day, shadowing different Senior Engineers as she works towards her qualification. After only six months in the role, Jamie-Lee has found a real passion for engineering and already has long-term ambitions of becoming a role model and mentor to women and girls considering a similar career.

Like Jamie-Lee, many have chosen apprenticeships to up-skill within their existing role, or re-skill within a totally new career path. Iqbal had worked at Mitie since 2014 when he decided to take on a Data Analyst apprenticeship which has allowed him to boost his knowledge of some of the complex operating systems recently adopted by Mitie. The skills he’s learned have benefited colleagues and the wider business too, improving the accuracy and standards of reporting, and improving access to real-time data as and when our customers need them.

While there is much to celebrate this week, it is also important to discuss the barriers which people still face due to the current system falling short. Businesses may be willing to spend the time and resources investing in future talent, but common obstacles, including the availability of suitable training programmes, means progress is still too slow.

There are ways of addressing these challenges. For example, opening up the levy so it can be re-invested to help people achieve the course entry requirements they need, such as maths and English, would help those without these foundational qualifications get their foot on the first rung of the learning ladder. At Mitie alone, we have 147 different nationalities within our workforce, so we know English certainly doesn’t need to be your first language for you to excel in an FM career. This is the case for Agnieszka, who has blown her colleagues and training officers away with the incredibly high standards of her work, with English as her second language. Becoming a Maintenance Technician was a new challenge for her, having previously worked in a sweet factory for 14 years as a machine operator, so when her manager suggested an apprenticeship to expand her knowledge, Agnieszka didn’t hesitate to say yes. Working across different hospital sites in Leeds, she plays a crucial role in keeping these running smoothly by conducting daily repairs, planned maintenance, and responding to emergency breakdowns.

The need for suitable training opportunities doesn’t just apply to engineers and technicians. For our cleaners, security officers and office colleagues alike, we must do more to create new routes for training, attract fresh talent, and put in the basic foundations for effective apprenticeship schemes for school leavers. As well as boosting skills for colleagues in the field, there are many benefits for office-based colleagues too, like James, who is completing an apprenticeship in public relations and communications at Mitie’s headquarters. By choosing an apprenticeship straight after school, his passion for media and writing have been put in practice from day one, allowing him to learn on the job alongside his studies. And by starting a PR career within the FM industry, which never shies away from innovation, it’s safe to say he’s never short of stories to tell.

Jamie-Lee, Iqbal, Agnieszka, and James are just four of approximately 1,100 colleagues completing apprenticeships at Mitie at any one time, and their can-do attitude and willingness to learn and develop their careers is what makes them such an important part

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