ELECTRICIANSMake the switch for a brighter future

2 www.clarksonevans.co.uk

CONTENTS

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What we do at Clarkson Evans

Award winning contractors

Our customers

4-5 What makes us different?

6Our electricians

How much would you earn?

7How is pay divided within a team?

Our Top 10 - What we look for

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Organisation and taking responsibility

Induction period

Case study: Curtis Everard, Senior Team Leader

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What are the working hours?

Can you progress in the company?

Case study: Simon Kingwell, Regional Production Manager

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Case study: James Smith ,Team Leader, Oxford

What if you’re not fully qualified?

What technical support is available?

How will you order materials?

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What can you expect from your team members?

What training should your apprentices expect from you?

Case study: Craig Cook, Team Leader, Bridgwater

12 Locations: Where we operate

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What we do at Clarkson Evans

With over 550 staff, we are one of the UK’s leading electrical contractors. From our head office in Gloucester and our fourteen regional branches, we specialise in wiring new homes – over 12,000 of them every year – in an area covering much of southern England, the Midlands and south Wales.

Each branch is typically home to 20-30 electricians and apprentices who meet for breakfast there in the morning before loading their vans and heading off to site.

Although all administration is carried out at head office, each branch is staffed by a supervisor (who is responsible for the smooth running of the branch) and a storeperson who arrives at around 6:30am to make sure that the premises are opened up and breakfast is laid out ready.

We also offer a one-stop-shop by installing a wide range of specialist services such as solar PV, multi-vent heat recovery systems, intruder alarms, TV and satellite systems, CCTV, fire alarms and door entry systems.

ABOUT CLARKSON EVANS

Award Winning Contractors

National VQ Employer of the Year 2014, recognition of our dedication to supporting vocational training

Contractor of the Year 2012, Electrical Industry Awards

Our customers

We work for all of the UK’s leading house builders, including Barratt, Bloor Homes, Bovis, Linden, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey. Over the years we have established very strong working relationships with our customers and we pride ourselves on offering a first class service, responding to their requirements and meeting the high standards of workmanship they expect.

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Accurate kits and drawingsWe’re an electrical company

run by electricians. Most of the directors including the MD have wired new houses on price and

understand that you can’t get the job done without the right drawings and kit. Although we can’t promise that things will never go wrong we invest a lot of time and effort into

trying to get it right first time.

You’ll be a name not a number

Despite you being one of more than 550 staff, we’ll know who

you are and how you are getting on. You’ll know us too and get

the opportunity to meet the company directors at regular branch meetings and let them know how things are going –

good or bad.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

The opportunity for price work ‘on the books’ with paid holidays

You don’t need the hassle of being a ‘subby’ to get paid on price. At Clarkson Evans

you get rewarded for your efforts and still get up to 25 days’ paid holiday plus bank

holidays. Not only that, holidays are paid at your average earnings so if you regularly

earn £750 a week, that’s what you’ll get when you’re relaxing by the hotel pool.

The opportunity to manage your own workload

If you’re the type of person who shies away from responsibility and just wants to be told what to do every morning then this isn’t the

job for you. But if you relish the idea of having a couple of sites to run and being left to get on

with it then you’ll thrive at Clarkson Evans.

We’ve got ongoing contracts will all the major national housing developersFrom humble beginnings 30 years ago we now wire more new houses throughout England and Wales than any other company – typically well over 1,000 every month. Unlike some companies that hire and fire according to seasonal workloads, we can offer our electricians permanent employment with consistent work. And during quieter periods we have a safety net to ensure your weekly pay never falls below 75% of your average earnings.

Everything you’ll need

comes as standard

VW transporter van, power tools,

protective clothing, company uniform,

phone, iPad – it’s all supplied. All you

need to bring on day one is your hand

tools, everything else is taken care of.

We’re an ambitious,

award-winning

companyWe take pride in all

that we do and the

awards we’ve won

over the years speak for themselves.

But we’re not complacent - every day

we ask ourselves how we can do

things better, how we can improve the

service to our customers and how we

can be a better company to work for.

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Company pension scheme

You’ve probably been

putting it off but we make it

easy for you to invest in a

pension and the company

will also contribute

on your behalf.

A twice-yearly loyalty bonus

We believe in building long-term

relationships with all

our staff and to reward the loyalty

of our team leaders we pay a

bonus of up to £1,000 (or more),

not once, but twice a year!

And there’s so much more…Career progression, technical back up and support from our office based project teams, regular quality audits to showcase your work, our own in-house training centres, the opportunity to relocate to other branches with free accommodation, a computer system that allows you to see your weekly earnings as you book your work in, all the information you need on an iPad – the list goes on…

Weekly pay, paid directly into your bank account (two weeks in arrears)No more having to chase the boss for a cheque every month and getting fobbed

off with a string of excuses. We know you’ve got financial commitments and

that’s why your pay will hit your account every Friday morning without fail.

The opportunity to build a long-term career with usIf you are looking to build a long-term career with a dynamic company then you’ve

come to the right place. If you’re willing to take responsibility and do what it takes to

get the job done and keep our customers happy then you’ll go places with us.

Regular social eventsA summer BBQ, day out to Cheltenham Races, Children’s Christmas Party - these are some of the regular social events that take place each year.

We’ve got some of the best apprentices in the industry (with awards to prove it) You’ve got to be good to get an apprenticeship with Clarkson Evans. We specifically target bright, ambitious people with a good work ethic who want to make something of their lives. All apprentices share in the bonus scheme so they are motivated, hard-working and quick!

We’ve got our own

electrical wholesaling company

No more wasting time hanging around

wholesalers in the morning. With all

materials supplied by our in-house

wholesaling company we bring the materials

to you. Order what you need by 5:00pm and

it will be delivered overnight so it’s ready and

waiting for you the very next morning. A free breakfast every morningYou may have heard the rumours and it’s all true. At all branches there’s tea, coffee, toast, cereal and fruit juice all laid out for you to help yourselves. It’s all on the house and just our way of doing what

we can to get your day off to a good start.

Our electricians

Most of the qualified electricians we employ are team leaders. This role brings all the benefits of running your own business without the hassle.

As a Clarkson Evans team leader you’ll be given a company van and power tools and will normally head up a team of three. Our electrical teams typically include a qualified electrician (that’s you), a first year apprentice and a more experienced apprentice or recently qualified electrician. You’ll be responsible for work on particular sites, liaising directly with site managers and planning your workload to make sure build programmes are met.

You’ll benefit from the support of a local supervisor and the materials you need will be bagged up and delivered to your local branch overnight ready for each day – so no time will be wasted hanging around at wholesalers. And best of all, you’ll get paid weekly for the work you do – it’s down to our accounts team rather than you to chase payment from customers.Our team leaders play very much a hands-on role so as well as planning

How much would you earn?

All of our team leaders are paid on price rather than at an hourly rate. So the more you achieve, the more you earn. Typically our team leaders earn £500-£800 per week but at busy times of year our very best team leaders can earn upwards of £1,000 per week [All figures are gross].

We also operate a grading scheme to recognise your efforts and enable you to increase your earnings and benefits as you progress through the company. For example you could earn a twice-yearly loyalty bonus of up to 8% of your earnings and increase your holiday allowance from 21 days up to a generous 25 days. All holidays will be paid at your average earnings.

“all the benefits of running your own business without the hassle.”

ahead and supervising others they’re busy completing as many fixes as they can for each week. To be successful you’ll need to work quickly, be well organised and have a knack for motivating other members of your team. It’s a demanding role but with rewards to match.

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How is pay divided up within each team?All team members are assigned a points rating based on their experience and this determines their individual share of the payment for each fix completed.

Team leaders joining the company usually start at 10 points and, as they work up the grading structure, they can get up to 12. Meanwhile, first year apprentices start at 3 points and gradually work up to 5 by the second year and then 7 when they finish their training.

So let’s just say you joined us as a team leader and had a first and second year apprentice in your team. The total points of the team would be:

10 + 3 + 5 = 18

If the fix was worth £270 then your share would be £150

£270 ÷ 18 = £15£15 x 10 = £150

It may sound complicated but all you’ll need to do is book in the work completed using drop down pick lists and our computer system will do the rest. It’s a great way of dividing up the fix price fairly.

TOP 10 What we look for

1 Experience of wiring new homes

2 Drive to work hard in order to maximise your earnings

3 Enthusiasm to further your career with us in the long term

4 Reliability, people who turn up on time every day

5 Strong organisation skills and the ability to forward plan

6 Willingness to take full responsibility for your work

7Capacity to cope with the physical demands of price work on building sites

8Good communication skills (for dealing with site managers and members of your team)

9Willingness to supervise, motivate and train a small team – the more effectively you work as a team, the more you’ll earn

10Basic IT skills (for sending emails and using drawings on iPads)

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Organisation and taking responsibility – the secrets of successOur most successful team leaders all have two things in common – they’re very well organised and they take full responsibility for their sites.

They make sure their vans are tidy and well stocked. They plan ahead, especially in the run-up to holidays. They talk to site managers and other trades. And they’re prepared to go above and beyond and just do what has to be done to keep up during busy periods.

Once I’d done my apprenticeship at another company I wanted a change of direction and to work more locally. I’d recently completed my AM2 at the company’s training centre and after I’d seen the facilities I was really impressed and thought that this was the place for me.

The biggest challenge I found in moving from my previous company to Clarkson Evans was getting used to the different style of working. I had to refocus what I learnt previously and shift from industrial to more domestic electrics. I just knuckled down, got on with the job at hand and, thanks to the great work environment, I knew that joining Clarkson Evans was the best thing to do.

As well as the positive company morale, Clarkson Evans gives you guaranteed work, a chance to earn good money. Even though there’s a lot of work in liaising with sites, I enjoy the hustle and bustle of it what I do: you always feel like you’re moving and progressing. The company are always there to help out and to look after the electricians. It’s like a big family, and so even with the busy schedule, you feel like you have a hold of it all.

CURTIS EVERARD Senior Team Leader, Gloucester

Induction periodWhen you first join the company a full induction will be provided at our Gloucester head office. You’ll spend a day in the office meeting key members of staff, receiving induction training and being issued with essential items including uniform, a company mobile and an iPad.

You’ll then spend typically 4 weeks working within a team under the guidance of one of our more experienced team leaders so that you can learn our company systems and procedures. During this period you will be paid a guaranteed £500 per five-day week.

We will of course cover any travelling costs or overnight accommodation required to attend the induction at our head office.

“Our most successful team leaders take full responsibility for their sites”

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Before coming to Clarkson Evans I used to work for a small family business doing a range of practical work, but I wanted to focus my career and use my qualification as an electrician. Clarkson Evans caught my attention and the fact that they were a bigger company and constantly expanding offered a good change of pace.

Even though it’s a very different place to work compared to the small company I came from, the structure and organisation of Clarkson Evans made the transition as easy as possible. There was a lot to take on and a lot of work to do, but thanks to the support of everyone at the company, I quickly settled in.

Clarkson Evans is always growing and willing to evolve for the better and to provide new opportunities for its electricians. I’ve gone from team leader to branch manager for Exeter and then production manager for the South West, with responsibility for four branches. I appreciate that I’ve had the opportunity to progress through the company – without doubt joining Clarkson Evans was the best decision for me and I’ve never looked back.

SIMON KINGWELL Regional Production Manager

What are the working hours?You will normally work Monday-Friday, arriving on site by 8.00am and finishing by 5.00pm. But having said that, your hours will vary depending on your workload and you’ll basically be expected to do what’s needed to keep up with site build programmes. This might include working some weekends at busy times of year.

Can you progress in the company?We’re always on the look out for people who really want to develop a long and successful career with us. As well as climbing up the team leader grading structure, there are several opportunities for office-based or supervisor roles further down the road.

“I’ve had the opportunity to progress through the company”

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What if you’re not fully qualified?To work as an electrician on new housing developments you’d be expected to have a JIB gold card, which you can normally only get your hands on if you’ve completed NVQ3.

But if you’ve got a lot of experience and haven’t completed your NVQ3 yet we can help you out. Thanks to our assessing team, we can train you while you’re working with us and you’ll have your NVQ3 in no time.

What technical support is available?You’ll be supported by our office-based project teams and you’ll also be given an iPad containing all the information you could possibly need. House type drawings? Check. Summary specifications? Check. Technical Manuals? Check. It’s all on the iPad.

How will you order materials?You’ll order whatever you need through our nifty in-house computer system. Whatever you ask for will be bagged up ready to go and delivered overnight to your local branch ready for you to pick up the following morning.

After the recession and spending time in and out of work at other companies, Clarkson Evans offered consistent work. I thought if you can’t get work as an electrician here, then you can’t get work anywhere.

At first, I found the switch to Clarkson Evans challenging because it’s quite different to any company I’ve worked for before, but once you get to grips with those differences, it’s very rewarding.

I particularly enjoy the responsibility and the relationships that you make with everyone you meet in the role, the customers, the supervisors and the directors, and there’s also a real sense of progression within the company. Outside the job itself, Clarkson Evans has put on Christmas events, there was a company barbecue this summer and there is a disco for the employees’ children every Christmas.

I’d say if you’re willing to work hard, adapt quickly, take responsibility for your work and really care about what you do, you’re set for a really good career at Clarkson Evans.

James Smith Team Leader, Oxford

“Materials will be bagged up ready and delivered overnight to your branch”

“I particularly enjoy the responsibility”

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What can you expect from your team members?We interview hundreds of potential apprentices each year and all of them go through a tough selection process designed to select only those with the right attitude and ability. Rest assured, there is a strict hierarchy and all apprentices are expected to be reliable, hard-working, eager to learn and willing to accept and follow instructions. And before they join you on site each new apprentice attends a practical induction week, so they can make a worthwhile contribution from day onecontribute on site and the more you earn.

What training should your apprentices expect from you?

You’ll need to teach your apprentices practical skills to maximise their contribution and therefore maximise your own earnings. They’ll learn the theory side of things in the classroom at one of our in-house training centres but it’s a team leader’s job to help apprentices master the practical skills needed.

After I was made redundant from my previous job, Clarkson Evans seemed like the next option for me as an electrician, especially because they seemed to offer good opportunities and guaranteed work.

I found coming to Clarkson Evans a breath of fresh air: the company is organised, we’re given iPads to use, there’s support from the project team and a dedicated customer care team.

I enjoy working with the apprentices, teaching them new things and seeing them develop their skills. I’ve had some very good apprentices in my team and they contribute a lot.

For the size of the company it still has the feel of being family run. This is most apparent with the kids’ parties at Christmas and the day at the races every November. Everyone works very hard all year and this is a chance to get to know everyone else better as well as let your hair down.

Craig Cook Team Leader, Bridgwater

“There is a strict hierarchy and all apprentices are expected to follow instructions”

“Coming to Clarkson Evans was a breath of fresh air”

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Meteor Business Park Cheltenham Road East Gloucester GL2 9QLweb: www.clarksonevans.co.uk email: hq@clarksonevans.co.uk t: 01452 530336 f: 01452 530036

OXFORD

CRAWLEY

BRACKNELL

SOUTHAMPTON

EXETER

NEWPORT

TROWBRIDGE

GLOUCESTERBIRMINGHAM

PLYMOUTH

NEWQUAY

BRIDGWATER

MILTON KEYNES

BRISTOL

LOCATIONS

Our head office is in Gloucester and from our regional branches we cover much of southern England, the Midlands and south Wales. Materials are delivered overnight to all of the branches shown, and our electricians and apprentices meet there for breakfast before heading off to site.