Winder Power is proud to support the next generation of engineering talent, and National Apprenticeship Week gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate the seven apprentices currently developing their careers across our Leeds facility. With four first year apprentices and three in their second or third year, our programme continues to grow year on year, strengthened by our ongoing partnership with Appris College and guided by our Engineering Manager, who oversees the development and progression of every apprentice. Together, we provide structured training, hands on learning, and a clear pathway into skilled engineering roles that will shape the future of our industry.
For many of our apprentices, engineering runs in the family. First year apprentice James was inspired by his dad to enter the trade, joining Winder Power to build a career in both mechanical and electrical engineering. He explains that he became interested in engineering after leaving high school, knowing he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. James enjoys the variety of the Testing Department, where, as he puts it, “no two days are the same,” and he names observing a lightning impulse test as his favourite project so far. For anyone considering applying, his advice is simple: “Go for it. Work hard and keep learning,” reflecting how much he has already grown in confidence, life skills, and technical ability.
Another first year apprentice, Kacper, chose the apprenticeship route because it allowed him to earn while developing a practical skill set. After discovering that his uncle worked at Winder Power, he was inspired to join the team and be part of the transformer manufacturing process. He values the company’s two month rotation system, which allows apprentices to explore departments across the factory before choosing their long‑term path. He has found wiring auxiliaries around the transformer particularly interesting and says that continuous hands on learning makes the apprenticeship route ideal. In his time so far, he has strengthened his teamwork, communication, tool handling abilities, and time management skills.
For Leo, the route into engineering began with a fascination for cars, architecture and the work of his uncle, who was a chemical engineer on an offshore oil rig. He chose Winder Power because of our reputation, industry partnerships such as Leeds United sponsorship, and our commitment to supporting apprentices as they build their careers. Currently rotating through the Winding Department, he says he enjoys the depth of knowledge needed to understand coils and appreciates the team who support his learning every day. Looking ahead, he is excited to move into Erecting, where he can be even more hands on. He describes the apprenticeship as a “great environment” with “guaranteed career progress,” and says he has already learnt communication, team building, accuracy and safety skills.
Similarly, Oliver, another first year apprentice, was introduced to engineering through his dad, who works in a similar industry. He describes being “very excited” when he learned he had secured a place at Winder Power, drawn to the company’s strong reputation and the hands on nature of the apprenticeship. Currently in the Fitting Department, he begins each day by discussing tasks with his supervisor before either learning something new or working independently using the skills he has already gained. His favourite experience so far has been in Erecting, where building the transformer helps him understand how each component works together. For Oliver, “getting paid to learn new skills each day is a no brainer,” and he has already developed both technical and social skills.
By the second year, apprentices begin to specialise in the departments that suit them best. Sonny chose the Erecting Department because of his interest in electrical work and the challenge of combining both electrical and mechanical assembly. He explains that his typical day involves working on coils, cores, CTs and cable work, and he names the 66kV internal build as his favourite project so far. With the company now progressing towards 132kV transformer manufacturing, Sonny is excited about future career opportunities and believes an apprenticeship is “one of the best things you can do after leaving school,” offering real world experience, pay, and a valuable qualification.
Oliver in his second year, has progressed into a specialised on site role with Winder Power’s Transformer Services team, where he is gaining hands on experience supporting installations, maintenance and refurbishment work across customer sites. Building on the strong foundation he developed during his first year factory rotations, Oliver has taken naturally to the fast paced, practical environment of field service work. His growing confidence, technical ability and willingness to learn have made him a valuable part of the team as he continues to develop into a skilled service engineer.
Now in his third year, Connor joined Winder Power for the hands‑on experience and the chance to gain industry qualifications at the same time. With previous experience in electrical engineering systems, he wanted to take his knowledge further. He now has valuable experience within the erecting department enabling him to run tap and line leads on his own then proving these are connected correctly by doing low voltage testing. He describes the apprenticeship as “a great way to gain real life experience” and highlights the supportive people around him. Over the years, he has developed stronger professional confidence, problem solving abilities, and advanced electrical engineering skills.
Across all levels, each apprentice’s story reflects the same themes: opportunity, growth, hands‑on learning and a strong sense of belonging within the Winder Power team. Their experiences highlight the value of our structured rotations, our close collaboration with Appris College, and the dedicated guidance of our Engineering Manager and supervisors across the factory. As our business continues to expand, apprenticeships remain a vital part of our strategy, not only to strengthen our workforce today, but to build the skilled engineering talent of tomorrow.
