Milwaukee Tools has partnered with JTL, one of the UK's largest work-based learning providers, to help address the growing skills shortage across the construction and building services engineering industry.
The partnership will support apprentices in England, beginning with a pilot of the partnership at JTL's Birmingham and new Thames Valley training centres, giving learners access to high-quality training, equipment and real-world experience.
The aim is to help ensure the next generation of highly-skilled tradespeople are prepared for the demands of modern construction, mirroring what they will use on site and improving confidence, competence and safety.
JTL has a network of 17 specialist training centres, and also partners with a number of colleges and other delivery partners, supporting around 8,000 electrical and plumbing apprentices.
Rather than simply supplying tools, Milwaukee is also bringing its team of Job Site Solution Specialists to JTL apprentices. These experts will deliver regular, practical, on-site sessions across select training centres and colleges; complimenting the high-quality day-to-day training apprentices receive from JTL's site-experienced Tutors and Training Officers.
These sessions will give apprentices the chance to further get to grips with professional-grade tools, while also building confidence around safety and practical guidance in realistic working environments.
This initiative also aims to challenge outdated perceptions of the trades. By introducing apprentices to modern technology, it highlights how construction today is driven as much by innovation as it is by skill.
JTL apprentices will also have the opportunity to visit Milwaukee's UK Experience Centre in Aylesbury, where they can explore the full range of tools and take part in specialist training sessions, competitions and events.
For training providers, Milwaukee's collaboration helps reduce equipment costs and broaden access to high-quality training. Independent Training Providers (ITPs) like JTL face significant funding constraints and are not directly funded for tools and equipment. For learners, it means learning with the same tools they are likely to use on site, helping them feel job-ready from the very start.
"The skills gap in construction isn't just a recruitment problem, it's a perception problem," said Dan Abley, College Programme Manager at Milwaukee Tools. "Young people need to see that the trades offer genuine career progression, with powerful technology, and career paths that rival any office-based role.
"This partnership puts professional-grade equipment in learners' hands from day one, proving that construction is as innovative and technology-driven as any other sector. When you learn on the tools you'll actually use in the field, you build the right habits and standards from the beginning, and that shapes your entire career."
"The construction sector is constantly evolving, with new technologies and tools reshaping how we work." said Chris Claydon, Chief Executive Officer of JTL. "This partnership with Milwaukee ensures our apprentices continue to learn using first class, industry leading equipment. JTL's training expertise, combined with the innovative solutions Milwaukee brings, will support our apprentices to develop the skills electrical employers need now and in the future."
Following a visit to Milwaukee's UK Experience Centre in Aylesbury, JTL's Delivery Team Manager for the Western region, Kirstine Ginger, said: "It was fantastic for our delivery team to visit Milwaukee's Experience Centre in Aylesbury and see first-hand the breadth of innovation shaping the electrical industry. Experiences like this really bring learning to life, giving staff greater knowledge and confidence with new tools and technologies to pass on to the next generation of apprentices, while reinforcing the practical skills they are learning in training with JTL".
