A SECURE FUTURE

Now fully qualified with a secure future ahead of her, Laura Bradley is delighted she made the decision to re-train as an electrician during the Pandemic, via Broadacres’ apprenticeship programme.

And as Laura explained, the fringe benefits aren’t bad either with a patch that covers the Dales, Moors and coastline of North Yorkshire.

“I love the fact that every day is varied, you could be in Reeth or Scarborough so it’s got to be one of the most beautiful journeys to work you can have,” she said. “It was a bit of a leap to start an apprenticeship at 38 but it has all worked out really well.”

Laura became a science teacher after gaining a degree at university. Having decided to leave teaching she was working in a sales role but found herself out of work as a result of the Pandemic and decided to apply for an electrical apprenticeship with Broadacres.

“My degree was in secondary school science, so the interest was always there, and the apprenticeship was more about the practical side,” she said.

“I did have to think things through before applying. The wage wasn’t what I was getting as a teacher but was still good for an apprenticeship,” said Laura. “Now, two and a half years on, having secured a job with Broadacres as a fully qualified electrician, I only wish I’d done it sooner.”

Laura’s role includes visiting Broadacres’ customers across North Yorkshire to carry out any repairs or fix faults in properties.

And though she’s now a fully qualified electrician, Laura is determined not to rest on her laurels.

“The company is very supportive of professional development and with all properties needing to be tested at least every five years that’s an area I’m keen to qualify in,” she said. “Then there is the renewable energies field; innovations such as solar power and electric vehicle points, so there’s plenty more still to learn.”

In her spare time Laura enjoys biking, hill walking and generally getting out and about in the countryside so travelling to jobs doesn’t feel like “work”.

“It’s such a beautiful area,” she said. “The people are so friendly and welcoming and so are their dogs which makes work a pleasure.”