16-year-old Dan secured an apprenticeship after gaining a “head start” through Building Futures Together (BFT).
Dan, from Leeds, first heard about BFT from his best friend’s dad. With an interest in becoming an electrician, he joined BFT’s Easter 2024 holiday programme. He enjoyed it so much that he returned during the six-week summer break, travelling over an hour each way to attend the vocational learning centre. His commitment paid off, as he gained valuable hands-on experience and achieved a City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills.
Dan said: “I was keen to gain work experience and after my best friend’s dad told me about BFT, I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and I knew it would give me a head start on others interested in becoming an electrician. As I was particularly focused on gaining skills specifically for an electrician, BFT tailored my training so I could concentrate on electrical installations. I learnt about currents, how to lay everything out, and what would be expected of me at college. Securing my City & Guilds qualification looked great on my CV and has definitely helped me stand out from the crowd.”
He added: “I’d recommend BFT to any student who isn’t sure what to do next or wants to gain a better understanding of the construction industry. For me, it confirmed what career I wanted to pursue and gave me the confidence and qualifications to progress. Thanks to BFT, I’ve now started an apprenticeship with RPS Lifts and Electrical and will be beginning my studies at Leeds College of Building in September 2025.”