FINNING UK & Ireland has announced that twelve engineers have completed their apprenticeships and taken their next steps on the career ladder as the data centre industry gears up to hit peak demand for skills.
The group has spent four years with the business and all members have now graduated into field engineer and workshop engineer roles. Tasked with repairing and maintaining Cat equipment, they have completed the Level 3 apprenticeship programme as data centre construction in the UK is tipped to rise by a fifth in the next five years.
The newly qualified apprentices have worked in a range of applications and sectors, with one working in the marine sector based in Poole, two more working in electric power in the south west and electric power for data centres, and one as a pre-commissioning engineer for large electric power projects.
Construction researchers Barbour ABI estimate that the number of data centres in the UK is set to jump from 477 to 577, with the majority being built in the next five years. Many of these centres are privately funded by tech giants.
The new team of qualified apprentices from Finning will have a crucial role to play in keeping data centre projects on track, not only through construction but in the everyday running of them. Equipped with advanced diagnostic skills and the latest knowledge of repair techniques and technologies, they will be based across the UK and Ireland.
Craig Smallman, engineering academy manager at Finning UK & Ireland, said, “Our six new field engineers and six new workshop engineers will be helping to set the pace for these major construction projects. Ensuring productivity and efficiency, they will be instrumental in delivering safe, successful machinery outputs through their work inspecting, installing and repairing equipment. Together they will help the construction industry to keep moving forward and achieve excellence.”
Finning has welcomed its 2025 cohort of apprentices, with 24 new recruits beginning their journey at the start of September.
