Apprentice 121 Podcast

Hosted by apprentice121

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

146

Latest episode

Mar 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

Multi award winning UK electricians podcast dedicated to apprentices, trainees, trainers and employers. Discussing topics from 2391, AM2, NVQ, 2365, 8202, employer support, apprentice tips, career stories and much much more. Lots of fun and technical chat all rolled into one podcast. We have support from industry brands, bodies, electricians and most importantly trainers and learners.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

March 17, 202632 min

Lets FIX broken training Team Electricians!

We have a huge opportunity during the era of abundance and with some joined up thinking, honesty and combined approach we can change the dynamic around training and outcomes in the electrical sector. In this video I run through some of the challenges, problems and offer solutions. As I say I am far from an expert as some like to point out. All I have is my experience of running businesses in the sector, working in it for 25+ years and carrying out endless training and CPD of my own and those I employ. Combined with a small community called Apprentice 121 and 6 years of running that including the period of Covid. I mean I would say it makes me qualified to offer a view, but hey perhaps not. I think we have an exciting future and its great to see a sector moving in what I think is the right direction with a few tweaks around the edges much needed to iron out the kinks and dams built by the otters #ifyouknowyouknow .... #teamsparks

February 24, 202656 min

Training to be an electrician in 2026 THE RIGHT WAY....

Neil Phillips joins me to share his route into the electrical industry and subsequent creation of Electrical courses Ltd in Cambridge. You can find Neil online here https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-phillips-345a1a69/https://www.instagram.com/electricalcourses/https://www.tiktok.com/@electricalcourses @electricalcourses

November 26, 202530 min

Retrain as an electrician - What to do...

We get into safety of solar and battery systems. We are seeing worrying trends around scare mongering and simplification of cause/effect. But what do you think? Is solar of itself the problem or as discussed more to do with training, specification and how we maintain kit. Get involved in the comments and share your views alongside a couple of designers, installers and users of solar.https://proteusswitchgear.com/solar-pv-consumer-units-saving-time-and-space-on-site/

October 16, 202542 min

A121 Training - The what and the why...

Let me tell you a tale about A121 training! Are you looking to do solar, battery or EV courses? Get in touch

September 14, 202555 min

Are single insulated cables in meter cupboards okay - ESF and NICEIC explain

I am joined by industry power houses Luke Osborne - ESF Technical Director, David Powell ESF electrical installation safety engineer, Paul Collins NICEIC technical director and Sam Donaghy NICEIC head of technical advice. We discuss what WRAG is, its role and one of the topical subjects some people are discussing online atm, namely meter cabinets and single insulated cables. I share my views which are opposing to those of Wrag and best practice guidance but with understanding towards the technical analysis of what a box is and how it can be seen as an electrical enclosure. I guess it boils down to external influences and how these boxes are accessed and operated. Even as skilled people should we be expected to enter areas that could reasonably provide us with insulated and sheathed protection when we cant isolate that "enclosure" pre entering it. I am interested to hear your thoughts and views on this and as I mentioned in the chat these people nail the vast majority of these questions and guidance documents. Which is why this particular issue makes no sense to me. My only hope is to stop seeing so many of these installations carried out on new build homes in particular. When consumer safety and standards matter it simply should not be a thing imho. Thanks to the gents for giving up time on an evening to talk about this topic and maybe we will have the opportunity to discuss other things in the future. A real privilege I am not ungrateful for as this recording was done at 7pm out of working hours.

June 12, 20251 hr 2 min

Poor electrical work prosecuted - Design a share trading office - Heat pumps RCDs...

We got into some topics and half on this one! Huge thanks to Richard and Craig for digging into these topics and sharing views/experience. Loved it and hopefully it is useful to those listening along. Richard sharing his involvement in investigating poor electrical work, Craig designing a global trading room floor and Mark taking Solar!

May 2, 202548 min

DC RCD blinding - Ban type AC ? Plus a good old catch up!

Was great to catch up with Richard and Craig after a bit of a while! We got into the ESF event, Craigs day job, RCD blinding, Testing for DC leakage and loads more! Also towards the end we discuss A121 training.....

February 19, 202554 min

Employing apprentices is REALLY hard what can we do about it?

We get into the difficulties employers have in 2025 funding apprenticeships and the huge waste of tax payer funding on full time study routes. What do you think? What are the solutions?

February 13, 202559 min

The Successful outcomes of apprenticeships - Electricians

Mark, Richard and Craig discuss their experiences of training in the electrical industry with questions answered around science and principles, information on ESF initiatives and what we think to recent changes around minimum apprenticeship lengths and entry requirements. Loved this chat

January 9, 202557 min

AM2 tips - EICR coding - No AFDDS = C2 really???

Are the lack of AFDDs a C2? Should EICR coding be changed and lotsssss more. Mark, Richard and Craig discuss a wide range of topics, with tips and discussion points for all trainees and electricians.