We’ve been a trusted partner of Equinix for many years, working with them to deliver high quality data centres. As a result of our close working relationship, we identified a gap in the apprenticeship experience and have created a solution that will have a positive impact on both the practical skills and employability of our apprentices on both sides. Spearheaded on Gratte Brothers’ side by Labour Manager, Richard Harris, and on Equinix’ side by Tracey Magnus, this collaboration is the result of months of planning, coordination, trial and review.
The Opportunity:
We noticed that our teams complete installations and then hand projects over to Equinix’ maintenance teams, never seeing the other side of the operation, and vice versa. Our apprentices were gaining valuable exposure to the installation phase of data centre fitouts, but they had little to no hands-on experience with the maintenance side of operations. On the other side, Equinix apprentices were getting a deep understanding of the ongoing maintenance work but weren’t being exposed to the initial installation process.
Introducing the Apprentice Swap Scheme:
In response to this opportunity, we developed a tailored apprentice swap scheme in partnership with Equinix. The concept was simple: apprentices from both companies would swap roles for two weeks at a time. This allowed our apprentices to gain hands-on experience in data centre maintenance, while Equinix apprentices would learn the ropes on the installation side of data centre fitouts.
By rotating apprentices in this manner, we’re ensuring that both groups have the chance to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the entire data centre lifecycle, enhancing their skillsets and broadening their career prospects. Providing an opportunity to see the entire process offers the apprentices with an invaluable chance to understand where their work fits into the bigger picture. In the development of well-rounded young professionals, we see this as a crucial step in their training.
Throughout each stage of planning, facilitating and reviewing the scheme, the team at Equinix have been unparalleled in their collaboration and enthusiasm, and it’s been brilliant to watch our shared vision come to life.
A Proven Success: 10 Apprentices and Counting
So far, 10 apprentices have successfully completed the swap, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Apprentices have expressed how the scheme has enriched their learning experience and improved their employability by expanding their technical skills across different areas of data centre operations. Not only are they gaining deeper insights into their core areas of focus, but they are also developing a more holistic understanding of the entire data centre environment, which is invaluable in today’s competitive job market.
Gratte Brothers’ Labour Manager, Richard Harris, commented that:
“To have the opportunity to engage with Equinix in bringing together both our apprentices has been amazing. From GBL apprentices being able to learn how a data centre is maintained once completed, to Equinix apprentices learning the skills and knowledge on how their data centre is built before it’s handed over. The enthusiasm that the apprentices all have is deafening and taking that back to their peers who are ready to be switched next can only bring smiles all round. Looking forward in this joint venture, we will continue to give our future generation of maintenance engineers and electricians the skills and knowledge of building and maintaining a data centre that they can all be proud of.”
Tracey Magnus, Training & Development as Equinix, responded:
“We are fortunate to be able to offer this Apprentice Swap scheme with our valued colleagues at Gratte Brothers. It’s exciting to see the months of close planning together come to life. We look forward to watching these apprentices’ careers thrive as they apply their new-found knowledge to their everyday roles.”
On the overall initiative, Debbie Phillips, Data Centre Operation Director, Equinix added:
“It’s essential given the continued expansion of Platform Equinix that we invest in the growth of our engineering talent. Providing them the opportunity to learn with one of our construction partners helps them to build not just their knowledge of the bigger picture, but equally, for both teams of apprentices to establish a peer support network, further strengthening our working relationships.”
