In our second feature celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2025, we sat down with one of our current apprentices, Hayden Blake, to find out more about how he came to be an apprentice at Elkins Construction and how he is finding the experience so far.
Why did you want to do an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship appealed to me because it provided the perfect opportunity to continue learning while also giving me the opportunity to gain practical experience and earn a salary.
What made you choose Elkins for your apprenticeship?
I wanted to work as an apprentice at Elkins as I’d heard the company has a great culture and offers a supportive working environment. I firmly believe that working in a positive and collaborative atmosphere has helped me perform to the best of my abilities and contribute meaningfully to the work of the team.
Tell us more about your apprenticeship
I’ve been doing my apprenticeship in plumbing and gas engineering for coming up to four years now. I work with Elkins’ multi-trade department across various projects, undertaking all kinds of jobs. Day-to-day this can be anything from simple plumbing tasks to fitting and repairing cookers, boilers and much more.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Elkins?
Elkins is a family-run business and that is really evident when you work there. I like the sense of camaraderie that there is between everyone in the team. There is always someone on hand who is willing to help you and teach you something new, which makes it a great place to learn, and an ideal environment for an apprentice. I’ve learnt so much from the experience of those that I work alongside.
What do you get up to outside of work?
When I’m not working, I like to keep fit. I’m sporty and play a lot of football in my spare time. Plus, I’m currently training for a marathon.
Say hello to Hayden on our social media channels – you can find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. Keep up to date with all our latest news here.
