Apprenticeships fuel expansion in the South West

Oct. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Electrical contractor Clarkson Evans has celebrated the official opening of its new Exeter branch.  The Gloucester-based company now employs 20 staff in Devon, including 8 electrical apprentices.  With another new branch in Newquay and one opening next year in Plymouth, this strengthens the company’s commitment to expansion in the South West.

The firm specialises in wiring new homes and its workforce of over 350 staff are based at branches covering much of southern England, the Midlands and South Wales.  But it’s only in the last six months that business has really taken off in Devon and Cornwall.  

Despite operating in an industry that has struggled through the recession, Clarkson Evans has steadily expanded in the last two years and Steve Evans, managing director, puts this down to two key things.  “We invest heavily in staff development and have a strong emphasis on customer service”, said Steve.  “We usually employ at least 40 apprentices every year across all branches, offering them a long-term career path.  The vast majority progress to become our team leaders and everyone is taught from day one that in our customers’ eyes we’re only as good as our last job”.

Amongst those who attended the official opening of the Exeter branch were senior staff from Clarkson Evans’ key customers – the UK’s leading house builders – as well as Councillor Kevin Mitchell (Deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter) and Richard Daulton, Employer Services Manager at the National Apprenticeship Service.  Richard commented on the clear importance of workforce development to the success of the business, saying “A significant amount of the reputation and growth of Clarkson Evans can be directly attributed to their substantial and sustained investment in Apprenticeships”.

When asked about the company’s plans for further growth in the South West, Steve Evans is cautiously optimistic about the future.  “These remain difficult times for the house building industry but there are positive signs that we’ll be able to expand our workforce and offer more apprenticeships in the coming months.  We’re pressing forward not just with the volume of sites we’re working on but also the range of services we offer – solar photovoltaic installations are in particular high demand”, said Steve.

Visit www.clarksonevans.co.uk for more information or for training visit www.clarksonevanstraining.co.uk

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We provide electrical training courses for around 1,500 people each year, ranging from apprentices and mature career-changers to electricians with years of experience.