The Electrical Industries Charity is calling on the industry to show support for young apprentices and help them to build a better future by signing up to the Apprentice Support Programme.
Apprenticeships are an effective way of bringing talented individuals to the workforce while giving them a great opportunity to earn while they learn – and one of the ways the electrical sector can remain competitively skilled in the future. However, although more and more young talented people are entering the electrical sector via the apprenticeship route, not all of them can complete their studies and progress further.
In the electrical sector, there are hundreds of young apprentices who are currently faced with a wide range of struggles such as having to care for elderly or unwell loved ones or suffering financial problems, which over time can put their performance and progression at risk and lead to mental health problems.
Currently, one in six young workers are experiencing some form of mental health problem but very often don’t reach out for help. Recently, the Guardian revealed that 75% of young people with mental health problems are not receiving help and more than half of them feel embarrassed about their mental illness.
Mental health stigma can be a silent killer. In the electrical sector alone, around 200 construction workers commit suicide each year. The Office of National Statistics showed that suicide is the biggest killer of young people aged 20-34 in the UK each year, which is greater than it has been for the past 10 years. In 2015 alone, 1,660 young people under 35 years old took their own lives; 58 more than the previously recorded highest figure.
An apprentice going through a rough patch needs support to allow progression and achieve a lifetime of productive and satisfying work. To help young people to strive towards excellence in their chosen careers while assisting them in creating a brighter future for themselves, the Electrical Industries Charity has launched the Employee Assistance Programme, of which the Apprentice Support Programme is part of.
The Apprentice Support Programme was designed to help young people in the electrical sector to deal with some of the key challenges that affect them as they embark on their chosen career path. The support services include debt management, financial assistance, counselling, support for carers, scholarships, apprentice bursary scheme, engineering scholarship, legal support, complex case management support and career development and transition assistance.
Early intervention and a solid support network can have a huge impact on young individuals who are struggling to reach their goals due to obstacles standing in their way. The Charity continuously offers that much needed support to meet the challenges faced when starting out in a new career and achieve lifetime goals for the future.
Sign up for the Charity’s Apprentice Support Programme today and help young people to reach their potential and secure a brighter future.
For further information, or to sign up to the Programme, please contact Vicky Gray: vicky.gray@electricalcharity.org
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