Aston Group building a brighter future

Aston Group, a leading Building Services and Facilities Management company, is supporting the continued success of its electrical division with the appointment of Harry Tomkins as a new electrical apprentice.

Harry Tomkins, who is 17 and from Chingford, is one of 11 apprentices within Aston working their way to a professional qualification. Harry is working under the guidance and supervision of an experienced team of electrical engineers and will spend most of his training at Ascham Homes, an ALMO that serves the residents of Waltham Forest. Aston has been providing mechanical and electrical servicing maintenance and repairs, as well as supporting Ascham with capital upgrade works, since 2004.

Aston Group Apprentice Scheme

Alongside the practical learning Harry is currently studying for a Level 2 certificate at Millennium Academy in Barking: “My Level 2 finishes in April next year,” he says, “but I hope to achieve as many certificates as possible to build my knowledge and my practical skills. So far I have been learning about the fundamentals of health and safety, science and maths that will help me in the field.”

But Harry says that the real learning has been with Aston: “In just a short space of time I have covered so much, from installing two-way lighting, solar panels, fire alarms, and emergency lighting. It is definitely a case of learning on the job,” he says, “and I have been so lucky with the opportunities, allowing me to get hands-on experience across such a variety of areas. I’ve worked with four different mentors so far, and they all know how to teach in a meaningful way so that I learn as much as possible.”

Aston Group’s Managing Director, Alan Thomas, says that the firm is committed to giving young, local people a professional start in life: “We are passionate in providing young people with the opportunity to enter into their chosen career paths and are proud to support them and see them progress, whether that is a new apprentice like Harry who is proving to be an eager learner or Duran who is now undertaking a management role. They are a great credit to themselves and the company.”