With nearly one million young people aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training, aspiring electrician Anis Adimi (19), from Croydon, is gaining hands-on construction experience to boost his chances of securing an electrical apprenticeship.
The Guildford College student has spent his summer working across live construction sites with sustainable refurbishment specialist Better Green Living, after the company visited his college to speak to students about careers in the industry.
Anis, who is studying for an Electrical Installation Level 2 Diploma, hopes the experience will give him the practical site knowledge needed to take the next step towards becoming a qualified electrician.
Anis said: “I wasn’t very academic in school, so going to university was not a pathway I considered.
“One of the reasons I wanted to become an electrician was because it’s a skilled job and the work is always there, which is no longer a guarantee given the rise of AI.”
Tom Dodson, Chief Operations Officer at Better Green Living, visited Guildford College to share his insights on careers in construction, offering students the opportunity to gain work experience across the company’s London sites.
Anis jumped at the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Starting in July, he began working at Better Green Living’s site in Wimbledon, as part of a refurbishment project 10 minutes from the tennis courts. In this role, he helped redecorate the building, move materials, add turf to the outdoor area and build new furniture for the courtyard.
“Any experience you can get working on-site is an incredible bonus when you’re working towards becoming an electrician,” Anis said.
Following his work in Wimbledon, Anis joined the Better Green Living team working on a refurbishment project for King’s College London at Bush House. Located on the Strand, the Grade II-listed building is currently undergoing refurbishment. Anis has supported with tasks including painting, demolition work, removing roof panels and laying new carpet.
Anis said: “Through my work experience, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a variety of people working in construction trades. It’s been especially helpful as there is an electrician working on the team, so I’ve been helping him with tasks like wiring in plug sockets and gaining a better understanding of what the job looks like in practice.”
“Working at Better Green Living appealed to me as the company does a lot of work with entertainment venues and events, in places such as Glasgow and Japan. I haven’t travelled much, so the idea of going to different places for work is really exciting.”
“Next year, I’ll hopefully be starting my apprenticeship to set me on the path to becoming a qualified electrician. Through my work experience, I’m really pleased to have gained exposure to construction sites and learned from people with years of experience in various trades. It’s a great way to understand what you’re getting into and find out if the job is genuinely for you.”
Tom Dodson, Chief Operations Officer at Better Green Living, said: “As a future-proofed industry seeing a surge of interest from young people, we feel a responsibility as construction professionals to support the next generation. From gaining experience on day-to-day tasks to learning how a construction site operates, work experience is crucial to helping young people on the path to their careers.
“It has been fantastic having Anis with us throughout July and August. As a work experience student, he really hit the ground running, getting stuck into all kinds of tasks carried out at Better Green Living.
“We’re pleased that Anis enjoyed his time with us and wish him all the best with his next steps.”
Better Green Living, part of Better Green Group, is a specialist refurbishment company dedicated to sustainable retrofitting and commercial fit outs. Known for delivering high-profile refurbishment projects for King’s College London, the company continues to strengthen its reputation as a leader in environmentally conscious construction.
