Using educational partnerships and industry feedback to enhance DPL Group apprenticeships

DPL Group is driving a fresh approach to apprenticeship recruitment, working alongside education providers and young people to enhance our established programme.

We are proud to have a long and successful track-record for our Apprenticeship Scheme, training a number of award-winning apprentices and providing clear pathways from apprenticeship starters through to management roles.

This year’s Apprenticeship Scheme, which launched on September 3, has created opportunities for a further nine new apprentices.

They have joined our teams across DPL, Green Technology Solutions and Protect & Detect, within our Electrical, Mechanical, Air Conditioning, Project Engineering and Fire & Security teams.

Our Associate Director, Nathan Kettlety, said: “Apprenticeships are hugely important to DPL Group – we see them as a crucial part of preparing the workforce of tomorrow.

“DPL Group is proud to be a member of the 5% Club, meaning at least one in 20 of our staff are in ‘earn and learn’ roles.

“Our Apprenticeship Scheme is our investment in our community.

“Creating opportunities for local apprentices has been key to DPL Group for the last 25 years and we are super proud to have built amazing opportunities for our next generation.

“We are constantly working with our apprentices, and our educational partners to build the best opportunities for our apprentices, and work closely as part of our Social Value programme to do this.”

DPL Group is now delivering our 2026 educational programme, building on feedback received from our educational partners, including Eastern Education Group, Suffolk New College and Colchester Institute, young people and industry professionals, to take it to the next level.

As part of recruitment, we guaranteed an interview to every applicant – 52 in total – offering each of them work experience if not accepted on the scheme and providing personal feedback to improve their chances at future interviews.

DPL Group Director, Lewis Brown, said:  “This year DPL Group listened – to our partners, to the students we supported, and to the industry – to build an apprenticeship programme that really delivers what the industry needs, what our next generation needs and what our educational partners need.

“We’re listening, learning and delivering to build our business ready for the future.

“We would like to congratulate everyone who secured a place on the 2026 DPL Group programme while recognising those who were not successful this time.

“At DPL Group, we are committed to developing skills across our industry and understand the value of providing support, guidance and opportunity.

“As a local business leader, we recognise the importance of providing the local business support to those not selected, and offered each applicant the opportunity for work experience at DPL Group.

“Work experience provides applicants with a full week of industry learning, practical pathways, and CV preparation, interview experience and the creation of plans to support their journey towards future success.”

Nathan Kettlety was one of those who has benefitted from our Apprenticeship Scheme, having joined us as an 18-year-old trainee in 2011, and is now an Associate Director.

Our very first apprentice, Byron Downs, who joined the group aged 16, is still with us too, recently celebrating 22 years with the company.

Last year’s Apprenticeship Scheme saw another cohort of talented young people join the firm, including trainee Mechanical Project Engineer George Moss and Trainee Electrical Estimator Austin Riches.

George said: “An immediate pull was the company had a clear apprenticeship scheme with a qualification that directly correlates with what was going to be done at work, and a good progression path once the apprenticeship had been completed.”

Austin added: “I chose DPL because it stood out as a company that invests in its apprentices. I was especially interested in going to college alongside working, as I wanted to gain both real-life experience as well as technical knowledge.”

For more information about DPL Group’s Apprenticeship Scheme, see www.dpl-group.co.uk/careers/apprenticeships