As National Apprenticeship Week shines a light on the different paths people take into skilled careers, Alex Bate is taking his career to new heights after beginning a roofing apprenticeship.
Alex, aged 32, previously worked as a delivery driver before applying to LiveWest after identifying an opportunity to join the organisation.
He initially secured a role as a labourer with us in 2023. But after three years in decided to pursue the company’s first-ever roofing apprenticeship, to help develop his knowledge in an area he was already excelling.
As we recognise National Apprenticeship Week, Alex Bate, our apprenticeship roofer, said: “I just applied on a whim. I didn't initially really want to get into a trade or do construction, but I saw the labouring job pop up and I thought I would give it a go.
“I heard about the apprenticeship, it was through one of the lead technicians. I was a labourer beforehand, and we were working on roofing.
“We do a training course for roofing, and I did a good job. And he said, ‘why don't you become a roofer?’ And I said, ‘because I don't feel like I've received the right amount of training yet’.
“He said, ‘there’s an apprenticeship going, do you want to apply for it?’ And I said I would. I just thought, while I'm here, I may as well expand my skill set and learn something new.
“When I applied for the apprenticeship, I already had the previous knowledge and skills so I didn't go into it fresh or completely new. So it did help a lot and I've received a lot of support through other colleagues and LiveWest, and I’m really enjoying it.”
While LiveWest offers apprenticeships to any age, Alex believes it’s not too late to change career.
Alex said: “I am an older applicant as well. You’re usually fresh out of school for an apprenticeship, but I feel like there's no age to start again.
“It's never too late to learn a new skill. I attend college and everyone's younger so around 16, 18, but there are quite a few older applicants there too.
“At first I was a little bit nervous with it all, but that's all cleared away now. You just get on with it and don't really see age as an issue, we're all there to learn.
Being paid the national living wage and getting the training alongside made the prospect of an apprenticeship all the more appealing for Alex.
Alex added: “I started off as a labourer but now I’m doing an apprentice for the same pay, it was a no-brainer. The work is similar but I’m gaining qualifications and training out of it. I think it is a really good concept because you're learning a new trade and you're new to the job at the same time.
“With the mentoring, that's gone really well it's somebody who really knows what they're doing and he's fairly new to LiveWest himself. I'm learning from him, but he's learning from me at the same time. So it's come together and we collaborate well together.”