29th October 2025 9am to 4pm we will be opening and welcoming visitors! Lots of people already coming down so please be mindful of parking! We have 30 spaces but those will most likely be occupied. Further space is on the main road behind us. We have some games (electrical based and darts.... but not both together lol). We are very excited and having spent a longggg time bringing this to life cant wait for it! #teamspark #a121 #apprentice121

From an initial chat with a tech wizard of a customer (he ordered with us after seeing what we do for trainees, so did his dad as well 🤭) We had a chat sometime ago now and built from this 👇 What I have seen is insane. Trainee progress, mentor link ups, technical library, job links, API links to employers CRM platforms, certification management and loads more. We could have gone small with just a website or platform to generate revenue. But we stuck to the principle of trying to develop tools that elevate people across the entire sector. What is coming is like nothing and I mean nothing else out there. Be that tools internal to CPS and trade associations or in public/private sector education or the world of social media. Of all the A121 iniatives and we have a few tbf this is potentially the most effective thing we will have done to date. Beyond installations to support electricians in tough times, beyond tool and test kit donations after theft and beyond the college support drops. Potentially bigger than the thousands we helped find employment. Im sure industry will be right behind us as normal and the timing with the centre opening at the end of the month could not be better ❤️ Thanks to all for the encouragement and support. Equally thanks to those who try to knock us down. It only makes us stronger 🙌💪 #teamsparks #apprentice121

Supporting each other in times of difficulty is what the social media aspect has in spade! Can you help on a project myself, Cory, Dan and Dan are working on? A free solar and battery storage system to help Dan and his family while he recovers and for years into the future. Get in touch with any of us and help support a brother electrician Dan is a key part of the Apprentice 121 community and always has been ❤️ #apprentice121

Heading out to support another training provider this week with equipment to donate from the cutting edge of industry. This time some SolaX Power inverters and batteries along with NICEIC books, some solar panels and other bits from the team helping Apprentice 121 impact at the coal face of training. I will be meeting the legend @bobnoseda1 at Oaklands College for the ESG Ltd & Friends All Female Electrical and Plumbing competitions to celebrate International Women's Day 2025 at Oaklands College on March 7th. Huge thanks to all who have contributed to the equipment sent into training providers around the UK over the last few months. I am looking forward to sharing the video all about it very soon. We have more coming on this through 2025 and its incredible to see brands just wanting to help those in education and its privilege of mine to be a conduit for that through Apprentice 121. If anyone else wants to get involved its cost nothing other than the items donated and all of it goes directly into education within our sector. hashtag#teamsparks hashtag#apprentice121

What a day to celebrate national apprenticeship week 2025. Delivering circa £30k of equipment to 2 training providers completing the 6 drops totalling £100k ish. Thank you to Linda Mcwhinney MIET and the team at Burnley college along with Glyn Jones and Michael Borg from St Helens college. Great to see you all today and I hope this equipment will help you going forward. The roads even those through Harrogate and Skipton played nice so I will be home to see my kids and get tea with them! Huge thanks to all the sparks and who provided equipment and the epic brands 👏👏👏 GivEnergy Test Instrument Solutions Proteus Switchgear SolaX Power Callidus Wholesale Ltd IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC HellermannTyton Global Klein Tools Super Rod Centaur Manufacturing UK M2 Electrical MODECSOFT Ltd InstallerSHOW DEKS Industries EMEA City Electrical Factors NICEIC Paul Collins JA Solar Trinasolar Martindale Electric Co. Ltd Chauvin Arnoux Electrical Safety First Tamlex This has however started something and I've had even more offers for more equipment to be passed into education. More on that soon but for now 🫳🎤. #apprentice121 #teamsparks

Terrible acting alert! - Safe systems of work and in particular safe isolation.... Who follows the RAMS all of the time? If they even exist some of the time. These are the conversations I have had now in the thousands at trade events and many more times over via Apprentice 121. Electrical Safety First have some exception resources both around Safe Isolation and wider new initiative I referenced in the video with LEARNING LOUNGE LIMITED. Well worth checking out for those in education and totally free of charge! For those who have not seen it please watch Louise Adamson presentation about her wee brother Michael. If that doesnt change mindsets and attitudes nothing will. My content this last week has been aimed at sharing the importance of safe live test measurement and its value, fabricating metal containment and safe systems of work onsite. So many are sadly let down by the training sector pushed into work environments sometimes on an agency basis to complete full time study routes. Blended with employers who maybe done have the robust safety and supervision in place. These are the realities out in the trenches. Value your safety and raise your voices in the work place my under pinning message in this little video. Have a great weekend and remember our industry is full of incredible people doing amazing things. #teamsparks #apprentice121

Another little testing video! Dozens if not hundreds now over on the YouTube channel if they are useful. Wayne Draper is one of the most dedicated lecturers I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. We have a long conversation on the apprentice121 YouTube channel already and I am please to report a part 2 will be coming! @SuperRodUK again helping inventors bring products to market. I like this one. What we saying?

Can you make a 90 degree bend in metal trunking without measuring? A question that came back from the what I believe to be text book version of a bend I shared the other day. Lets find out if I can still knock one of these old school bends together. This was first time out the blocks so will be rusty! What do you think? #apprentice121

I am a massive nerd for electricianing! What do you think on this? Locking off 3 phase main switches while accessing terminals around them to carryout Ze/PFC measurements? I have shared some short videos on testing this week with a longer example on YouTube already. Very clearly stating I am not a teacher and referencing guidance note 3 all along. Including its preference towards calculation of Zs. What I share is something that is often neglected and forgotten in the training space. The real world things many on full time study routes are missing. Work onsite.... Experience of other active electricians. Now I have had some unpleasant and targeted rhetoric today, not the first time wont be the last. For me its all about the topic, debates and positive impact on improvement and tangible results. The rest is just destructive, negative and buried under ego which serves no purpose. What do you think? Hit me in the comments, they wont be turned off or deleted. hashtag#teamsparks hashtag#apprentice121

How do we test 3 phase RCDs? Lets have a look at some of the requirements and how/why we do it. A request came back after the Ze/PFC video for testing on RCDs as a learners training provider would not cover this (full time no employer). Said provider is active on social media and I am very tempted to ask why... But I am done with excuses. So here is a little clip of methods I use. Not perfect, but then I am not a teacher. Just an old spark trying to help #apprentice121

It's getting exciting! Circa 100k of equipment going into FE education via team Apprentice 121. Drop 2 begins... Unaccredited training isn't worthwhile apparently. Hold my beer 🤩 Thanks to all the individuals and brands. Can't wait to see the learners and lecturers this next few weeks with a full and detailed YouTube video for total transparency. #apprentice121 #teamsparks

I missed out on the college drop pre Xmas. My schedule went a bit mad ☺️. But tomorrow I head to riverside college with circa 15k of equipment from some incredible people and brands supporting and stuff from myself. I do join in 🥰. FE college classrooms are massively under funded. The politics and internal department level spread of that funding is a discussion for other times. But we can all play a part in helping coal face issues lecturers and learners face. It should not be forgotten that employers fund and pay for much of the apprenticeship training with the financial gains down the road if trainees make it. They are epic. Some of the equipment I'm taking comes from people like me and them. We can only try to positively effect outcomes while challenging those peddling sold portfolios, short format level 2 and 3 training with no prospect of ever doing a portfolio or am2 unless the shady trainers shuffle them through... stop mark before you turn a good post into a rant 🤣. More tomorrow #teamsparks #apprentice121

The budget has decimated employment of apprentices 🚨🚨🚨 true or false? My question is does the industry of things have appetite to tackle this together much like recent efforts around safe isolation? #apprentice121 is available if its helpful ❤️

A huge positive to end the week and bit of an update on the college support and wider life ❤️ Also answer the question of why this support is FE public sector only. I've never been one for a stage, recognition or applause. I prefer to just get on with stuff and keep going at that. Others can high five away while everything is on fire. I'm here with my watering can trying to help as best I an able alongside anyone who wants to join in. #teamsparks #apprentice121

This was a challenge it has to be said... This is the battle we have as installers coming to retro fit EV charging and solar. When really is a house in 2024 with a double detached garage best constructed with just a 2.5mm supply circuit to it? Is the best setup to wedge a consumer unit in the middle of the house under the stairs? That should have gone out of fashion in the 90s! What we see with outdoor switchgear is the symptom rather than cause. We need the industry of things to get that changed from the developers whom are members with them. This shouldnt be acceptable and they should be working to current editions of the wiring regulations. The get out here was designed in 2018 built in 2023/24... This isnt an ideal scenario but Ive done what I think is best in the circumstances and we will be back to make improvements and changes next spring when the solar goes in. The other issue is the quality of work. How can it be okay to have exposed copper on a live 80A cable in a meter cabinet? Outside of everything else I mean come on. #teamsparks #apprentice121

Are you a training provider looking for support? Get in touch with team Apprentice 121 today ☎️ 📩 . We have secured tens of thousands of pounds worth of equipment via direct support to this campaign and ongoing sponsorship of my social media output. Also in no small part we have dozens of electricians providing equipment to the pot in the aim of supporting training. Normal everyday sparkies just like me! From basic consumable supplies such as cable and clips to inverters, industry books, isolators, battery storage systems, solar panels and more! This is industry working together to impact as best we can. Nobody is paying to be involved, every last shred of funds are going direct to the cause. Im fortunate to make a living being an actual electrician so use funds even down to YouTube adrevenue supporting those coming along next. Thank you to:- @GivEnergy @SuperRodUK @Testinstrument @MODECSOFT @proteusswitchg @M2Division Centaur Manufacturing UK @cefonline @InstallerSHOW IMO Precision Controls Ltd @officialNICEIC @OfficialNAPIT @doncastercables @solaxpower @Klein1857 @StarChargeTech and others who have all pledged to help or are currently doing so month to month/week to week. Apprentice 121 was first born to support those who lost employment during the times of Covid. We still do that in the background as best we can. But something I believe needs to be transformed is funding and support to FE colleges and employers. Perhaps small efforts like this can be acorns to bigger things. All we can do is try! The government of things is all about roll out, net zero, speed and targets. If we are not careful that will be at the erosion of skills! Something we need to desperately rise and meet as the electrical industry. Truly thank you to everyone ❤️ #apprentice121 #teamsparks

🚨 🚨 🚨 CALL FOR HELP TO SUPPORT A COLLEGE 🚨 🚨 🚨 Are you able to help support the biggest college drop of equipment we have ever done through Apprentice 121 and myself? We regularly provide equipment from consumables such as cable, consumer units, DBs, solar panels, EV chargers, test instruments, hand tools and more. Largely funded by myself and supporters/sponsors of my social media activities. This is open to ALL. You do not have to pay to be part of the initiative all you are asked to do is provide tools, materials or equipment that is useful to a college environment. This can be your manufactured equipment or if you are a contractor/individual whatever you think is suitable, books, tools, parts etc. In return I will give as much coverage as possible to those taking part and have support from social media friends who will do likewise. Once we know the scale of support we will open applications from colleges requiring support and the minimum aim is to really help at least one of those, hopefully more! Equipment/donations can be sent to me/A121 for delivery or be provided direct to recipients whichever you prefer. For the colleges we do not require access for visits etc this is simply a supply of equipment. Although if you would like a visit from myself or others getting involved that would be a pleasure but no obligation. Following this I will see what we can do to directly support employers hiring their first apprentices. It is time to pivot and do more around these things now the solar business is well established. Please do comment and share to see what the community among the electrical industry can do! #teamsparks #apprentice121

Here's Kimmy showcasing our Twister Impact Masonry at the @installershow last week. Have you got yours yet? Big thanks for the tool demos, @si_laysconstruction @kimmythesparks @apprentice121! armeg.com/products/twister-i… #TwisterImpactMasonry #InstallerShow #TradeShows #ToolDemos

Some exciting news after returning from a long but very nice holiday! First week back is always a tough one and this was no different! Huge thanks to Tom Wilson from @Enphase Energy for the support. Along with Mike installing the system. Video to come soon on all of that. Dont forget to register for @InstallerSHOW show June 25th-27th lnkd.in/evww7-ti Keep you eye out for the 40 year celebration of @proelectrician Electrician & Installer Magazine edited by Richard Bowler in July. Sounds interesting! Thanks to @EarthingL Services UK Limited. For the supply of the condudiscs etc! They will be in videos soon (not paid, gifted or sponsored I should say). Next up on YouTube is a design of a whole home backup system using @MODECSOFT Ltd ElectricalOM. Which I have had a few questions on! Finally huge thanks to @GivEnergy for getting behind us in a sponsorship arrangement. Really excited to begin work on that soon and sharing more details. We have a great range of brands behind us and that is something I will never take for granted. Exciting times. hashtag#teamsparks hashtag#apprentice121 hashtag#electricians hashtag#liftothersup

Its always a shame when ego is thrown around the play ground. Seen it all before with dirt chucked at A121. I fight my own ego often, we all have it. But seems a shame for that to be present around important issues like safe isolation. For the record all are welcome to join me and various parts of wider industry in raising discussion and awareness as loads of parts of industry have done for DECADES and still do today. I will be volunteering at Elex Harrogate and all the Elex shows of 2024 along with the ETT event over in Northern Ireland later this year. All are welcome to join in. #respect #kindness #guidance #support #apprentice121 #safeisolate #liftothersup