JTL, one of the UK’s leading apprenticeship providers in the building services engineering sector, welcomed John Healey MP to officially open its new training centre in South Yorkshire on Friday, 11th October.
The charity’s newest and largest training centre, located in Wath upon Dearne, will serve as a hub for electrical apprenticeships and training in green technologies. The state-of-the-art facilities are the result of a £2 million investment, reflecting JTL’s commitment to delivering high-quality, learner-focused training, addressing local skills shortages, and supporting the UK’s green skills agenda.
The official opening was attended by John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, who unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion. He also addressed local employers, apprentices, school students, and the JTL delivery team on the importance of fostering skills for the future.
The South Yorkshire centre features cutting-edge electrical engineering and plumbing workshops, classrooms, an End Point Assessment (AM2) preparation workstation, and breakout areas. It is set to play a key role in helping the region meet its growing demand for skilled professionals, supporting local businesses in taking on apprentices.
Attendees at the event were given the opportunity to tour the new centre, meet the first cohort of apprentices, and learn more about the technical skills being taught. These will include renewable energy systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The South Yorkshire Training Centre is a flagship facility for JTL, contributing to the local economy while equipping future generations with the skills needed to meet the UK’s demand for sustainable homebuilding and energy infrastructure. A specialist 'Green Hub' will focus on training for renewable technologies. According to the South Yorkshire Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), future skills requirements include addressing replacement demand for an ageing workforce, alongside jobs linked to new technologies and construction methods, especially in the drive for net zero. With over £11.8 billion in planned projects for the sub-region—two-thirds (£8 billion) of which will be in the green economy—there is a growing need for highly-skilled electrical engineers to support low-carbon technologies, electric vehicles, carbon capture, and resilient utility networks.
Across the North East region, where JTL has training centres in South Yorkshire, Hull, and York, the industry charity is currently training approximately 1,800 apprentices in partnership with 1,200 employers.
John Healey MP, who represents the local Rawmarsh and Conisbrough constituency, commented:
“I am delighted that JTL has chosen Wath as the home of its new South Yorkshire training centre for apprentices to learn their trade. The centre has already created 17 jobs locally, through new tutors, administrators, and supervisors. Plans are in place to train almost 100 new electrical apprentices from across the borough, with an expansion into plumbing courses in the near future.
“Apprenticeships provide our young people with a valuable pathway into critical sectors, allowing them to earn while they learn and develop the essential skills they need for their careers. Our community is full of skilled talent, and we are eager for the next generation to be able to pick up a trade and get on in life.”
Sir John Low, Chair of the JTL Board, added:
“The opening of our South Yorkshire Training Centre marks an exciting milestone for JTL as we continue to expand our network of facilities to meet local, regional, and national skills needs. This new centre will help to equip young people in the South Yorkshire area with the practical, hands-on experience necessary to succeed in the building services industry, particularly as we move towards a greener economy. We are thrilled to contribute to both the local community and the wider national agenda for skills development and net-zero commitments.”