My apprenticeship got me to a place I thought a degree only ever could!
We are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, which is in its 16th year, to shine a light on the positive differences that apprenticeships can make to an individual’s career, employers and the wider economy. The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2023 is “Skills for Life”. We caught up with Avove Project Manager, Ajay Chadli, who started his career as an apprentice, and he tells us how an apprenticeship has given him skills for life.
Meet Ajay as he tells us about his career from Apprentice to Project Manager.
About Ajay’s apprenticeship
Ajay left school aged 15 and a half and didn’t know what direction he wanted to take after finishing his GCSEs.
Ajay played rugby and his coach, who worked for the gas board, saw a spark in him and told him about the apprenticeship programme they offered. Ajay told us: “My coach saved me from going down the wrong path in life. One Sunday, he told me about apprenticeships they offered at Transco and said to get to site on Monday morning where I was given a hi-vis, hard hat and boots and told to get on with the job. This was the start of what has been an amazing career to date.”
Ajay undertook a four-year apprenticeship programme with Transco as a Trainee Gas Network Operations Assistant/Craftsman. The apprenticeship gave Ajay the best of both worlds, allowing him to develop a career with invaluable on-the-job training, earning a wage and developing a career alongside studying – putting the learning into practice straight away.
Ajay’s career
Ajay secured a permanent position with Transco which became National Grid and spent 11 years with the company moving up the ladder to become Operations Manager for London and the Home Counties overseeing a considerable number of staff. During this time he studied part-time and was also one of the youngest people to join the Engineering Council and gain Engineering Technician Status.
Before settling in the north west and joining Avove, Ajay travelled the world with an Amazon-3PA robotics engineering business and was involved in building one of the largest commercial Amazon warehouses in the world.
Ajay is now a Project Manager at Avove and leads a team working on mains replacements and diversions to support the UK’s utility infrastructure. He manages resources, negotiates contracts and delivers key projects across the north west of England.
“I instantly saw that people like myself had done well for themselves in the workplace. They set really good examples for me, were great role models and I felt part of the team. I had the opportunity to learn whilst I earned, but that wasn’t the main part of what I enjoyed – I gained real-world experience with transferrable skills and the tools and knowledge to take my career forward.
I enjoy my job as no two days are the same. Avove is a new name in the utilities sector but has a legacy of nearly 60 years, so I’m working with an experienced team who delivers a strong performance for our clients. Working under a new name and Executive Leadership team allows us, as colleagues, to make a difference and help to shape the future of the business.
“I’ve not come from a conventional educational background, but I truly feel I beat the odds. Going through an apprenticeship taught me the tools of the trade, how to work as a team, to work hard to get where you are and respect. It was a fantastic stepping stone to get me where I am today – it got me to a place I thought only a degree could.”
Avove Project Manager, Ajay Chadli
About Avove
Joining one of our apprenticeships is not only a great way to start your career but also a way of progressing when you are working within your role. You’ll be rewarded, invested in and given the opportunity to develop within our organisation.
We bring together talented teams with diverse skills and backgrounds to contribute new ideas and help us to shape the future of the UK’s utilities infrastructure.
If you are looking to advance your career please visit our page here