Internal NewsApril 15, 2025April 15, 2025

Apprentice Evening 2025

Annual Apprentice Evening – Inspiring the Next Generation

We recently hosted our annual Apprentice Evening, welcoming students who are interested in pursuing an apprenticeship with us. This event continues to grow in popularity year after year—a reflection of the strong reputation our apprenticeship program has built since its inception in 1981. In fact, we are proud to say that our very first apprentice is still a valued member of our team today!

Our Apprentice Evening offers an excellent opportunity for students, along with their parents or guardians, to gain insight into what we do. Attendees were able to speak with current apprentices, engage with managers from various departments, explore the products we manufacture, and connect with representatives from West Nottinghamshire College, our long-standing training partner.

Apprenticeship Opportunities for This Year:

•Electrical Panel Builder – 10 positions

•Welder / Fabricator – 3 positions

•Finance Assistant – 1 position

•Central Services – 1 position

All applications must be submitted via the West Nottinghamshire College website:

https://www.wnc.ac.uk/Apprenticeships/

We look forward to welcoming a new group of talented apprentices into our business and continuing to support the development of future industry professionals.

Internal NewsApril 2, 2025April 2, 2025

New machinery investment 2025

Investment 2025

We have recently made a substantial investment in our fabrication department, enhancing our capabilities with two state-of-the-art machines from TRUMPF:

✅ TruPunch 3000 (Large Format) – A highly efficient punching machine that improves precision, reduces material waste, and increases productivity.

✅ TruMatic 3000 (Large Format) (Laser & Punch) – A versatile combination machine that integrates laser cutting and punching, offering exceptional flexibility and efficiency in sheet metal processing. This machine will see an increase in machine availability by 50% and will increase daily production hours over two shifts.

These additions reinforce our commitment to innovation, quality, and staying at the forefront of manufacturing technology.

Internal NewsMarch 18, 2025March 18, 2025

New members to our Veterans Club

Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming two more employees into our esteemed Veterans Club, celebrating their remarkable 25-year anniversaries with AF Switchgear.

Pictured are Steve Burrows and Mike Ratcliffe.

Steve Burrows joined us on March 13, 2000, as a Technician. Over the years, he has progressed through various roles, becoming an Approved Electrical Fitter on January 4, 2022, and, most recently, taking on the role of Team Leader in February 2023. His leadership and expertise continue to be invaluable to our team.

We also celebrate Paul Simpson, who joined AF Switchgear on March 13, 2000, as an Approved Electrical Fitter. His dedication and hard work have been instrumental in our success over the past 25 years.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to both Steve and Paul for their incredible contributions to the company. Here’s to many more years of success!

Internal NewsMarch 13, 2025March 13, 2025

Edward Richardson Apprenticeship

A huge congratulations to Edward Richardson on successfully completing his General Welder (Arc Processes) Level 2 Apprenticeship! 👏👏

Edward has shown incredible dedication, skill, and perseverance throughout his apprenticeship, and we’re thrilled to see him achieve this well-earned milestone. His hard work is a testament to both his personal commitment and the strength of our apprenticeship program in developing top talent.

Well done, Edward! We’re excited to see what the future holds for you in your welding career. 🔥⚙️

Internal NewsMarch 7, 2025March 7, 2025

International Women’s Day 2025

Today let’s celebrate the Women at AF Switchgear

At AF Switchgear, we are proud to recognise and celebrate the women within our company. As an engineering firm in a traditionally male-dominated industry, women currently make up 13% of our workforce—a 3% increase from last year.

Our female employees hold diverse roles across the business, from Apprentice to Director, contributing to key departments such as:

•Engineering

•Electrical Fitting

•Sales

•Site Services

•HR

•Business Support

•Finance

•Marketing

•Logistics

Last year, we focused on highlighting the international backgrounds of some of our female employees, and we are proud to say that all of them remain valued members of our team today.

Celebrating Achievements Over the Past Year

• Emma Ryan (HR Advisor) successfully passed her CIPD Level 3 qualification at the start of this year. Emma, who originally joined AF Switchgear in 2004 as an Office Junior, has worked diligently over the past 18 months to complete her studies through an Apprenticeship route fully sponsored by the company. She is now preparing for her End Point Assessment, the final step in achieving her qualification.

• Carmen Barlow recently joined us as an After Paint Assembler, becoming the first female employee in our Fabrications Facility. We wish Carmen every success in her new role.

• Karolina Golda and Helen Delicate joined us almost a year ago after being made redundant from their previous company. Both took on roles as semi-skilled Electrical Fitters, and we are delighted to have them as part of the team.

At AF Switchgear, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and accelerating progress toward greater gender diversity in our industry. Today, we celebrate the contributions of women within our company and beyond.

Let’s keep pushing forward—together, we can accelerate action!

Internal NewsFebruary 18, 2025March 18, 2025

Apprentice Intake 2025

🙌🏼 Exciting News – Our 2025 Apprentice Intake is Now Open!

Following the success of National Apprenticeship Week, we are delighted to announce that applications for our 2025 apprenticeship intake are now live.

At AF Switchgear, we are committed to developing the next generation of skilled professionals, and we are currently recruiting for the following apprenticeship roles:

🔢 Accounts Assistant x1
💼 Business Support x1
⚡ Electrical Panel Builder x10
👨🏼‍🏭 Metal Fabricator x3

All positions will be based at our Headquarters in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, with apprentices attending Vision West Nottinghamshire College (WNC) for their academic studies.

To learn more visit our careers section on our website:
CAREERS

Below you will find the application links via West Notts College.

Apprentice Accounts Assistant
ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT

Apprentice Business Support

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Apprentice Electrical Panel Builder
ELECTRICAL PANEL BUILDER

Apprentice Metal Fabricator
METAL FABRICATOR

Don’t miss this opportunity to kickstart your career with us!

Internal NewsFebruary 11, 2025February 11, 2025

Apprentice of the Year Award 2024

Yesterday we had the privilege of hosting senior management and apprentices from Group Metropolitan at our Nottinghamshire headquarters as part of National Apprenticeship Week #NAW2025. This visit provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our facilities and foster meaningful engagement between their apprentices and our own AF apprentices.

The Group Metropolitan team embarked on an early journey from London, arriving at our headquarters by 9 AM. The day’s agenda was carefully curated to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience. One of the key activities involved a collaborative group task, where apprentices from both companies worked together to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills.

A highlight of the visit was a session with our Engineering Director, Steve Garrard, who began his own career as an apprentice at AF Switchgear. Steve shared his inspiring journey from apprentice to director, offering valuable insights into career progression within the industry.

This was followed by a hands-on practical training session using our assessment panels, giving apprentices the opportunity to apply their technical skills in a real-world setting.

After lunch, both AF Switchgear and Group Metropolitan proudly announced their respective Apprentice of the Year awards. This prestigious recognition celebrates outstanding achievement and is a significant milestone for both companies.

The visit concluded with a comprehensive facility tour, led by our Group Technical Director, Mark Nutt, providing guests with a deeper understanding of our operations, capabilities, and commitment to excellence in engineering and apprenticeship development.

We thoroughly enjoyed hosting Group Metropolitan and we look forward to nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals.

Our Apprentice of the Year Award for 2024 winner was Elliott Allen. Elliott is currently a year 2 student having joined the company following a number of years working on site where he became interested in electrical work. Elliott said following his award:

‘I have learned a lot in the short time with AF Switchgear. The progress that I have made would not be possible without the support of my mentor, who took the time to ensure I understood what I was doing, as well as my team leaders who found me suitable work to challenge me and expand my knowledge further, along with many others on the shop floor. I am grateful to work with so many individuals who are willing to nurture, not just my, but every apprentices willingness to learn’.

Elliott has made quite an impact both at Vision West Nottinghamshire College and in the workplace.

A huge well done to Elliott and we wish him all the best with the remainder of his Apprenticeship with AF Switchgear and lets not forget a big thank you to all our apprentices for their hard work and contribution.

Pictured is Elliott with Mike Ratcliffe receiving his award and both AF Switchgear.

Internal NewsJanuary 28, 2025January 28, 2025

Derry Building Services Awards

🙌 We are proud to share an exciting milestone!

We recently had the privilege of attending the Derry Building Services Awards Night, an event we’ve proudly supported since 1992.

Out of four categories, we were honoured to receive nominations in two and were awarded the prestigious ‘QUALITY AWARD’ 🏆.

This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our team.

Representing AF Switchgear at the event were Mark Nutt, Group Technical Director, and Rob Briggs, Sales Estimating Director.

It’s also worth noting that we previously earned the Best Supplier Award in 2015—a recognition of our ongoing commitment to excellence. 🌟

Congratulations to all involved in organising this outstanding event, which continues to grow and thrive each year!

Internal NewsJanuary 28, 2025January 28, 2025

Apprentice update

🙌 We are beyond proud to celebrate the next generation of our achievers:

In a significant step forward for the panel building industry, 2024 marked a milestone with The Electrotechnical Joint Industry Board (JIB) finally recognising the industry’s experienced workers.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of AF Switchgear and Vision West Nottinghamshire College, experienced workers who complete the Level 3 Panel Wiring for Engineering Applications qualification are now eligible to obtain the prestigious ECS Gold Card.

Building on the success of this achievement, AF Switchgear submitted a formal request to the JIB in October 2024 to extend similar recognition to apprentices completing the Level 3 Engineering Fitter Apprenticeship (Electrical Pathway).

We are delighted to announce that as of January 2025, apprentices who successfully complete this apprenticeship will now qualify for the Panel Builder Gold Card. This development ensures that the contributions of apprentices are fully recognised and highlights the industry’s ongoing commitment to nurturing and celebrating emerging talent.

This is fantastic news for our recently qualified apprentices pictured below.

Internal NewsDecember 18, 2024December 18, 2024

Diane Purseglove receives her 25 year gift.

In October 2024, we had the honour of welcoming another dedicated employee to our prestigious Veterans Club, which celebrates team members who have achieved an incredible milestone—25 years of service with AF Switchgear. We are delighted to recognise Diane Purseglove for her remarkable contribution over the past quarter of a century.

This week, Diane, who continues to work with us on a semi-retired basis, was presented with her special 25-year gift to mark the anniversary date of this significant achievement.

During the celebration, Diane shared how much Sharon, her long-time colleague, has influenced her journey at AF Switchgear. She said, “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Sharon.” Their professional partnership has been a cornerstone of their success, evolving into a lasting friendship that both Diane and Sharon are incredibly proud of.

Together, they’ve witnessed AF Switchgear grow from one factory with just four computers to an impressive operation spanning five manufacturing sites equipped with hundreds of computers. Their shared experiences and contributions have played an integral role in shaping our company’s journey.

We are immensely grateful to Diane for her dedication, resilience, and loyalty over the years, and we are equally inspired by the incredible bond she shares with Sharon. Here’s to Diane and all our Veterans Club members who continue to make AF Switchgear a remarkable place to work!