Joe Trodd – apprentice of the month!

Q3 is dedicated to developing and expanding its apprenticeship programme because the benefits are self-evident when you hear of success stories like our very own Joe Trodd. Apprenticeships provide us with the workforce and managers of the future, equipping individuals across all disciplines with the skills to develop their careers and futureproof the evolution of the organisation.

Fabio and Joe Trodd, working at Q3, shaking their hands.

Fabio Goncalves (L) with Joe Trodd (R)

So, congratulations then to Joe Trodd, who has just been awarded “Apprentice of the Month” by Q3’s training provider.

Joe is an apprentice engineer working on our Salesforce contract and dedicates one day a week, pursuing the academic aspects of his Level 3 building services maintenance qualification.

He has been making fantastic progress as his tutor, Dave Moore, of Choice Training Ltd explains, “Joe has been doing well throughout his entire time on the course. He always tries hard and puts in 110% effort into everything he does. He is very thorough with his work and likes to understand everything that he is doing.

“Joe has handed in two job reports for his onsite evidence folder so far, and they are two of the best reports we have ever seen. Joe is also one of the politest students I have worked with, and I love the attitude he has towards his education.”

His manager, Fabio Goncalves echoes these compliments. “We are delighted that Joe has been awarded ‘Apprentice of the Month’. Throughout his apprenticeship, Joe has shown outstanding dedication and skill, plus a proactive attitude to applying everything he has learned from his course to numerous projects and onsite work. His contributions have included assisting with work on Plate Heat Exchangers (PHEs), Mechanical Low-Temperature Hot Water systems (LTHWs), and tap installs, among many other tasks, showcasing his versatility and commitment.

“Joe is constantly expanding his knowledge of mechanical systems through diligent research. His eagerness to learn is evident in the way he consistently asks questions and seeks guidance from the lead engineer. Joe also takes full advantage of opportunities to shadow and learn from specialist contractors when they are onsite.

“Joe, your dedication, curiosity, and proactive attitude truly distinguish you. Congratulations once again from all the team on this well-deserved recognition!”

Joe appreciates the way the college learning dovetails with the activities he is involved with on the day-job. “My experience working with steel pipework in the college workshop helped me greatly when we had to replace a plate heat exchanger on site. Similarly, practicing with compression fittings and building copper frames gave me confidence to plumb in an electric water heater after diagnosing and repairing faults with the appliance.”

Well-done Joe!

Apprentices – the next generation

Employing and developing the right people is the the key to success in any FM business and apprenticeships is a fundamental part of that strategy.

Those of you who are familiar with Q3 will know that our company name directly reflects our company values. The three Qs represent Quality people, Quality service and Quality workplaces, and are the foundation of our value proposition. These three values are totally intertwined of course, because without quality people Q3 can never expect to deliver quality services or create quality workplaces.

That’s why we place such great emphasis on finding the right people and creating the kind of environment where they can develop and flourish, both professionally and personally. Our apprenticeship programme is an important part of that strategy, providing the seed corn for the next generation of quality Q3 people.

Q3 currently has six apprentices who have taken the steps to further develop themselves within the sector and pursue their career aspirations. Although we are an FM business where you might expect the focus to be on trade apprenticeships, we have quite a diverse spread of apprenticeships in non-traditional areas, including HR, Finance, Sales and Team Leadership. We’re constantly encouraging employees to consider apprenticeships and have two new additions joining in the new Year.

Over the next few weeks, we will be celebrating the progress of the individuals who are part of our apprenticeship programme, to discover what they are gaining from the investment and how it is helping their career progression. We will also be talking to some of the managers and clients involved, to understand their roles in supporting the people in the programme. The consensus is that the apprenticeships have not only broadened the knowledge of the participants, but also boosted their confidence and independence, allowing them to accept greater responsibility, challenge the status quo and seek out more innovative solutions in their day-to-day activities.

First up, will be Paul Courtney who is pursuing the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management qualification.