RJ Booth Services
"Investing in your business"
RJ Booth Services Limited managing director Russell Booth is a big believer in apprenticeships, having started as one himself almost 30 years ago.
Joining Mansfield electrical contractor R.W. Derbyshire as a 16-year-old apprentice straight from school, he says the training equipped him with “the grounding for a successful career.”
Russell, 45, went on to recruit countless apprentices during his 25 years with the company, where he rose to the position of electrical contracts manager, and at other firms he later worked at.
Now, after setting-up his own business almost two years ago, Russell has maintained his faith in training new talent by hiring its first-ever apprentice.
Mansfield teenager Adam Smith (pictured left) joined RJ Booth Services, based at Forest Enterprise Centre, on Coxmoor Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, as a trainee electrician last June after Russell (pictured right) approached West Notts College for a suitable candidate.
The 19-year-old was recommended by tutors after impressing on the NVQ Level 2 in Electrical and Electro-technical Technology course which he studied at the college’s state-of-the-art construction campus in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
Adam secured the job following a successful two-week trial and is now on a Level 3 advanced apprenticeship, which will eventually see him become a fully-qualified electrician.
Working alongside supervisor Chris James, he is learning all aspects of the trade including re-wiring and installations.
Because the company boasts several major clients including local and national housing developers and industrial contractors, Adam is gaining valuable on-the-job experience in a range of settings – from new-build houses to factories and commercial units.
He said: “I started by learning the basics such as wiring a lighting circuit and am progressing to doing three-phase work, which is more complex. Eventually I’ll be able to do the full range of electrical work across the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors.”
Adam, from Pleasley, continues to attend West Notts College on day-release; learning theory in the classroom before applying it in the workshops.
He is positive about the apprenticeship experience, insisting: “I’m enjoying learning a trade and earning money at the same time.
“I like the variety of the job; working in different places and gaining new skills, so I’m not just doing the same thing every day.
“I feel this is preparing me for long career in the industry. It’s been a good decision. It’s setting me up for the future.”
Russell said: “Adam’s doing very well; he’s really enthusiastic and he wants to get on.
“He sometimes worries he’s not working quickly enough but I tell him it’s not about that – it’s about developing his skills and doing the job correctly, so when he’s ready to go out on his own, he knows exactly what to do.”
Russell is so impressed by Adam’s contribution that he’s set to recruit two more apprentices from the college later this year.
He also employs former apprentices Dean Hall and Cameron Cross, and sub-contractors Chris Gilbert and Adam Roberts from Elecpro Limited and AR Electrical Services respectively – all trained by Russell at previous companies.
He said: “Apprentices are the people you build your business on. If you give them a chance, and put in the time and effort to providing proper training, they’ll come good.
“Local companies need to invest in local people. If you invest in apprenticeships, you’re investing in your business.”