With only 3% of trade operatives being female, this didn’t get in the way of Leah applying for an apprenticeship with Mears seven years ago.
Leah’s introduction to becoming an apprentice electrician started at a young age. As a builder’s daughter, Leah was originally planning on joining her dad, but was persuaded to follow her dreams of becoming an electrician and has not looked back since.
Describing her time as an apprentice, Leah said –
“You need to be dedicated, resilient and passionate enough to tackle any hurdles you encounter. There are times when you think, is this it? I considered giving up on several occasions when the studying was hard, but I just got my head down and got on with it”.
Despite this, Leah continued with her apprenticeship and gained valuable work experience.
“Looking back now, I can see the benefit of my apprenticeship training, and I am happy that I stuck with it.
“I enjoy that my role is very hands-on, and I get to solve problems daily, thinking on my feet, knowing there’s always the rest of the team to bounce ideas off, if I come across a difficult issue.
“I really enjoy being an electrician and would highly recommend and apprenticeship as a route to a successful career”.
General Manager, Jude Bolton commented –
“Leah is an inspiration for all apprentices. Firstly, and most importantly, she is a great electrician and has learnt and applied herself throughout her training to become a competent and confident professional.
“Leah is a great role model for other young tradeswomen, as a busy working mum, Leah manages to balance the needs of her young family, with the demands of working four days a week.
“I am very impressed with Leah’s work ethic and enthusiasm since she has returned from maternity leave. Not only is she passionate about delivering a first-class service to our tenants, but she is constantly looking for new opportunities to improve her skills. In fact, we are currently looking at finding her additional training courses so that she can also become a competent plumber as well as an electrician”
Apprentices, like Leah, by the end of an apprenticeship will have the right skills and knowledge to succeed, an industry recognised qualification and be on the pathway to a successful career with Mears.