Paul Crosby Apprentice Lift Engineer - Installation, officially began his apprenticeship in November 2020 following a delay due to the initial ‘lockdown’ period incurred as a result of the pandemic in Spring 2020. Although UK Government Covid-19 restrictions returned during the winter months of 2020, appropriate safety measures and wearing of PPE enabled construction sites and essential planned preventative maintenance to continue.

Undertaking his NVQ Level 3 in Lift Installation, Paul was deployed to work on one of our lift modernisation/refurbishment projects taking place in London, Greater London, the South East and surrounding Home Counties. On-site, Paul assists our qualified lift engineers/fitters as a third-hand completing a variety of lift installation/refurbishment actions that enable him to complete an entry to his NVQ qualification records. Throughout the pandemic, Paul was expected to travel into work in London, comply with Covid-19 regulations on-site and ensure project delivery to timescale.

Paul began his career with Apex working as Workshop Assistant, providing manual labour assistance to the wider team working at our in-house manufacturing facility. Paul applied to Apex's apprenticeship scheme with the hopes to progress his career, follow his desire to pursue engineering, achieve a qualification and work on a variety of different sites. As a result of the pandemic, Paul had a key role in assisting manufacturing facility staff with rising demand to produce bespoke lift components and spare parts during the early stages of the pandemic as the industry suffered long lead times and delays in outsourcing materials. The early stages of the pandemic inhibited Paul from kick-starting his apprenticeship and working on-site due to the closure of construction environments for three weeks in Spring 2020. However, Paul did not let this hinder his ambitions and he continued to work in our manufacturing facility working as a key member of the team throughout.

As of November 2020, Paul began his apprenticeship and transitioned from working within the same environment every day, to travelling to a variety of modernisation/refurbishment sites across London, the South East and surrounding Home Counties. This came as a stark change to Paul, with the added pressure of trying to commute with reduced travel and increased restrictions as a result of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

When on-site, Paul worked and continues to do so today, alongside Apex's qualified lift engineers/fitters as a second-hand and assists with works such as: installing lift well and ancillary equipment, traction lift equipment, lift ropes and chains, lift doors and frames and more. In addition to pre-commencement works such as: using and interpreting engineering data and documentation, checking and setting lift installation and complying to statutory requirements throughout project duration. All of which Paul keeps note of, produces a written entry and provides photographic evidence towards achieving his NVQ Level 3.

As an EAL Approved Training Academy, Apex Lifts has the opportunity of educating apprentices and trainees in-house – overseen by assessor, Mark, who has been with Apex Lifts for over 35 years and offers a wealth of professional knowledge within industry. With the benefit of training taking place in-house and via LEIA (Lift and Escalator Industry Association) online distance learning courses, Apex apprentices including Paul, have the ability to continue their qualifications in the case another ‘lockdown’ period or further restrictions are incurred.

At 20 years old, Paul is an inspiration to apprentice prospects, having uprooted and transitioned his career during a global pandemic. Apex Lifts has a strong ethos of investing in younger generations as we believe they are the future of the lift industry – the Covid-19 pandemic did not deter Apex from continuing to invest in the future of engineering and oversaw the employment of Paul alongside an additional apprentice. Both form integral parts of the project delivery team and will one day have the opportunity to guide a fellow apprentice through their learning period once fully qualified themselves - Paul is a key element to Apex’s apprenticeship succession plan.

As a result of investment in younger generations, Paul has had the opportunity to undertake vocational development. Including, gaining experience working on live construction sites, working in a construction environment, gaining knowledge on health and safety practice, learning multi-skilled engineering and obtaining technical experience across a variety of different sites across public, commercial and private sectors. Beginning his career during a global pandemic has allowed Paul to identify and understand the importance of being a ‘key worker’ and have involvement in the development of London and wider areas.