by Richard Cosgrove | Tue 21 Oct 2025
Apprentices join Finning in keeping construction industry moving
Twelve engineers have completed their apprenticeships and taken their next steps on the career ladder as the data centre industry gears up to hit peak demand for skills.
The group has spent four years with Finning UK & Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat® machines, parts and aftermarket services and have now graduated into field engineer and workshop engineer roles. Tasked with repairing and maintaining Cat equipment, they have completed the Level 3 apprenticeship programme as data centre construction in the UK is set to rise by a fifth in the next five years.
The newly qualified apprentices have worked in a diverse range of applications and sectors with one working in the marine sector based in Poole, two more working in Electric Power in the South West and Electric Power for Data Centres and one as a Pre-Commissioning engineer for large Electric Power projects.
Construction researchers Barbour ABI estimate that the number of data centres in the UK is set to jump from 477 to 577, with the majority being built in the next five years. Many of these centres are privately funded by tech giants such as Google and Microsoft, with construction happening across the UK and will rely on consistent support and monitoring to ensure smooth operations.
The new team of qualified apprentices from Finning will have a crucial role to play in keeping data centre projects on track, not only through construction but in the everyday running of these crucial pieces of tech infrastructure. Equipped with advanced diagnostic skills and the latest knowledge of repair techniques and technologies, they will be based across the UK and Ireland ensuring customers can benefit from consistent support no matter their location.
Craig Smallman, Engineering Academy Manager at Finning UK & Ireland, said: “Our six new field engineers and six new workshop engineers will be helping to set the pace for these major construction projects.
“Ensuring productivity and efficiency, they will be instrumental in delivering safe, successful machinery outputs through their work inspecting, installing and repairing equipment. Together they will help the construction industry to keep moving forward and achieve excellence.”
A celebration to mark the apprentices’ achievements has been held, with Matt Smith, Service Engineer, Chesterfield; Zander Roberts, Service Engineer, Bristol; and Glen Walsh, Power Systems Engineer, Dublin presented with apprentice of the year awards.
Finning has welcomed its 2025 cohort of apprentices, with 24 new recruits beginning their journey at the start of September.
Read Earthmovers magazine every month click here