Completing an apprenticeship is a major milestone.

For Charlie Stokes and Josh Jones, it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their careers when they both accepted full-time positions with mel Group as qualified electricians in 2025.

After four years of training, practical experience, assessments, and on-site learning, both are now fully qualified and ready to take on greater responsibility across a wide range of projects.

We caught up with Charlie and Josh to reflect on their apprenticeship journeys, what they learned along the way, and their advice for anyone considering a career in the electrical industry.

For both Charlie and Josh, one of the biggest attractions of the electrical industry is the variety.

No two days are ever quite the same.

“mel Group has so many different clients in all kinds of industries,” says Josh. “The work is incredibly varied, which makes for very interesting days.”

Charlie agrees.

“There’s so many different ways you can do any one job. I wanted a career that combined knowledge with hands-on skills. Being an electrician gives you both.”

Before starting his apprenticeship, Charlie completed work experience with mel Group and quickly realised the role offered the perfect combination of practical problem-solving, technical knowledge, and hands-on work.

That experience ultimately led to him joining the business and beginning his apprenticeship journey.

Both apprentices found that the combination of college learning and practical experience helped accelerate their development.

For Josh, one of the biggest benefits of college was meeting apprentices from other companies and comparing experiences.

Charlie found that the mix of classroom theory and real-world application worked particularly well.

“We do a lot of commercial and industrial work at mel Group, but college covered a lot of domestic installations too. What I wasn’t learning on-site, I was learning at college.”

He also valued being taught by tutors who had spent years working in the industry themselves.

“They weren’t just teaching theory. They’d been on-site and understood the challenges you actually face in the job.”

When asked about the best part of their apprenticeship, both immediately highlighted the range of work available at mel Group.

Charlie recalls moving between completely different environments from one week to the next.

“One day I’d be working in a factory in Milton Keynes installing containment and wiring machinery. The next I’d be working in an office carrying out lighting installations. Then I might be helping with fault finding on Environment Agency locks along the River Thames.”

The exposure to commercial, industrial, maintenance, installation, and fault-finding work helped build both confidence and competence.
“Working at mel Group broadens your horizons,” Charlie explains. “You experience so many different types of electrical work.”
Josh credits much of his development to the experienced colleagues he worked alongside throughout his apprenticeship.

“All the supervisors have helped me, but I probably learned the most from James Holt while working on the locks and weirs along the River Thames.”

Now fully qualified, both electricians are looking forward to the next stage of their careers.

For Josh, that means taking greater ownership of projects and leading installations.

“I’m looking forward to having more responsibility and running my own jobs.”

Charlie is particularly interested in developing his inspection, testing, and fault-finding expertise.

Fault finding, in particular, is something he finds especially rewarding.

“You’re going into a situation where you don’t know what the problem is. Every fault is different. You have to think logically, develop a plan, and work through the problem until you find the solution.”

For Charlie, that’s where some of the most satisfying work happens.

“Problem solved.”

Both Josh and Charlie strongly recommend gaining practical experience before committing to a career path.

“If you’re interested in an apprenticeship, do some work experience first,” says Josh. “Speak to people in the industry and find out what the job is really like.”

Charlie agrees.

“You’re doing this job five days a week, so there’s no point being miserable. Work experience helps you understand whether it’s the right fit for you.”

Their advice also highlights the importance of taking ownership of your own development.

“Make the most of your training, keep your portfolio up to date, and always look for opportunities to learn,” Charlie says.

The journeys of Charlie and Josh demonstrate the opportunities available to people entering the electrical industry through apprenticeships.

From learning the fundamentals of electrical installation to working on complex commercial and infrastructure projects, both have developed valuable skills while building successful careers.

Most importantly, they have progressed from apprentices to qualified electricians within a business that continues to invest in their future.

As Charlie puts it:

“When you’re happy at work, the day goes quicker and everyone else bounces off the good vibes.”

For anyone considering an electrical apprenticeship, that’s not a bad place to start.