Kai Geere named Apprentice of the Year 2022
11/10/22: The TClarke Apprentice of the Year competition is a highlight in the company year. This year Kai Geere won through among five finalists from across Britain. Each one of them is automatically enrolled in the Group’s Future Leaders programme.
Mike Crowder, who led the finalists’ interview panel commented on the quality and motivation of the five finalists:
“Each one of these apprentices has shown the kind of commitment and motivation that we value so highly in this company. TClarke thinks long term – and we look for people who can deliver consistent quality in their work, day by day, year by year. Our apprenticeship scheme shows how we can find and train the right calibre of people to deliver excellent work, right across the country. I’m proud of each one of our apprentices and today’s finalists truly are the best of the best.”
Kai Geere
TClarke London
“Funnily enough, I was indecisive when I left school about what I wanted to do – but I did some research and I soon found out that TClarke is a place where you can develop and progress. What I didn’t realise was just how much opportunity you can get here.
“During the fourth year of my apprenticeship, I was given the opportunity, with a team of apprentices, to project manage the whole fit out and move of our TClarke offices into our new Head Quarters at 30 St Mary Axe – the Gherkin – in the City of London. This was an amazing opportunity; youth is never seen as a barrier with TClarke but as an opportunity. We were thrown in at the deep end but we were fully supported and got the job done, on time and on budget.”
Jack Ballantyne
TClarke Eurocentral, Scotland
“After school, I applied to a lot of companies, TClarke included, but I got no offers first time round. That didn’t stop me. I went to Forth Valley College in Falkirk to do a level 6 electrical engineering qualification and by chance, while I was there, TClarke were also there, building the College’s new facility. After qualifying, I got numerous job offers but having seen them at work, I knew TClarke was the one for me.
“During my four year, apprenticeship, I’ve progressed and right now they’ve given me my own project to deliver – so I’m dealing with main contractors, learning the engineering involved with new technologies and facing the realities of achieving a programme on time. At every stage, anything I’ve needed – from a bit of clarity to a little helping hand has always been there for me. That’s TClarke for you – a lot of responsibility and a lot of support.”
Jonathan Toward
TClarke Newcastle
“The biggest challenge at the start is getting used to actual working life. I think it was a steady process, gradually coming out of my shell and settling in. At TClarke you are encouraged to be responsible for your own actions – even as a first year apprentice.
“Looking back, you can see that TClarke is expert at taking you through the progression, increasing your responsibility and building your self-reliance. It is genuinely amazing for me to be here on the Future Leaders course and taking in so much information about the industry and our company’s ways of working. I’m up for the challenge.”
Zak Piper
TClarke Portishead
“Two things stood out for me from the start – how much you can progress in this company from an apprenticeship and secondly – which is related – the way the company shows and gets loyalty from the people that work here. These things appeal to me a great deal.
“I’m 27 and I took a Sports Science Degree but that didn’t lead to a career. But while I was doing a temporary job as an electrician’s mate on the Bath Spa University Job I came across TClarke who were working onsite. They gave me an opportunity. They gave me a lot of support and formal mentoring throughout my apprenticeship, and I’ve tried to show commitment in return. I was recently on the Upgrade to the Exeter Nightingale hospital project and that was an extremely intensive programme working 12 hours a day, seven days a week. We delivered and I think we all showed what it meant to do the job well.”
Charlie Rooney
TClarke St Austell
“I think part of the reason I was nominated for the Apprentice of the Year is because I have been highly motivated during my apprenticeship, and also through my desire to get involved in new mechanical engineering skills wherever possible.
“TClarke has so much depth of engineering expertise. I was offered the chance to supplement my skillset with two months working with the Climate Controls team and next I’m hoping to spend a couple of weeks learning from some of the best welders in the UK at TClarke Stansted Manufacturing Facility. This has all been in addition to my normal training. Being here in the London HQ of TClarke has blown me away! It is great to be part of such a big organisation with such a record of delivering awesome engineering projects.”