Apprenticeships have always been a fundamental part of City; Lord Willie Haughey, City's founder and owner, started his own career as an apprentice refrigeration engineer. Since City was first established, we have trained hundreds of apprentices across the UK and we are very proud to be able to say that over 70% are still part of our family today. Our apprentices are supported by ongoing training and mentoring, and many have gone on to achieve senior roles within the business.
Ryan McCarthy, started at City 19 years ago as an Apprentice, today he is our National Refrigeration Manager: “City’s apprenticeships although tough are very rewarding. As long as you put 100% into your work the support you receive is second to none from area engineers, line managers and above. I would definitely recommend City for an apprenticeship and you will have a great career in the industry. City is a company that is always evolving and for me is a great company to work for.”
As part of our mission to provide opportunities for women in FM, we're engaging with schools and colleges to highlight the variety of careers available within IT, engineering, construction, and FM, and we continue to encourage women to develop their careers with City through joining our successful apprenticeship and leadership development programmes.
Amy Cowan, Management Apprentice says: "I would happily sing City's praises over and over again. The opportunities for progression and development are one of a kind, and the amount of effort and time the company have put into us as Management Apprentices is something I will always be grateful for."
Values
Hire for Attitude - Train for skill
City's Apprenticeships give school leavers a real opportunity to learn while they earn. The required skill set includes the right attitude and behaviours alongside a real desire to learn. We invest in our apprentices' and their future and we offer the unique opportunity for industry recognised qualifications alongside real-world development experience.
Learning & Development
By providing quality development opportunities for young people, we attract and equip talented people for our customer teams. Every City apprentice is paired with a skilled and experienced mentor within their discipline. They receive on-the-job training, regular mentor meetings, quarterly progress reviews, and opportunities to undertake technical training at our own City & Guilds accredited in-house training centre at Haydock (for the Engineer Apprenticeships). Each day is a new challenge, as our apprentices learn and gain experience covering all the technical and hands on tasks required to develop them into the next generation of FM professionals.
Talent Recognition
We take talent recognition very seriously and we always make sure to recognise and appreciate hard and good work. The 70% retention rate is a real example that our apprentices always have a place in City's family. We offer numerous opportunities for career progression and make sure that City is a safe and happy place to work at.
Chloe Smith, Management Apprentice: "I have been lucky enough to be part of a great team and feel constantly supported. My time here has been full of opportunities and I'm constantly facing new and exciting challenges. I can't wait to see my future in City".