EIC raises awareness for apprentices
The Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) recently visited Loughborough College to speak with JTL Electrical Apprentices and T Level Electrical students about our ongoing mission to support apprentices, employees, retired colleagues and their immediate families within the electrical and energy industries.
A key focus of the visit was EIC’s mental health awareness work and the importance of prioritising mental health and wellbeing. This included recognising the signs that someone may be struggling, from emotional and behavioural distress to physical symptoms, and understanding how and where to seek support.
Established more than 120 years ago, the EIC provides confidential, practical support and emergency financial assistance to those working across the electrical and energy sectors. As part of its long-term strategy, the charity is placing a strong emphasis on raising awareness among apprentices throughout 2026 and beyond. The aim is to ensure that every apprentice in the electrical and energy industries knows that EIC’s services are available to them whenever they need support.
To support this initiative, the EIC is now offering its industry-specific training courses to apprentices completely free of charge. There are 15 modules that can be accessed via the EIC Learning Management System (apprentices can sign up here: EIC Free Apprentice Training). They cover a variety of topics based on real life cases and include:
• Money management
• Banter vs Bullying
• Relationship Issues
• Coping with Suicide and Loss
• Diagnosed Dyslexia
• Coping with a carer’s role
• Drug Induced Psychosis and Rehabilitation
• Homelessness
• Anxiety and Alcoholism
• Racist Remarks at Work
• Surviving Suicide
• The Importance of Talking
• Being Yourself (LBTQIA+)
• Navigating Suicidal Thoughts
• Overcoming the past – Sexual Abuse
As part of its college engagement programme, the EIC can also provide SCORM files to colleges to upload to their own Learning Management Systems, enabling them to easily deliver this training to students as part of their existing curriculum. All resources are provided free of charge, helping colleges to support student wellbeing without additional cost or administration.
During the visit, members of the EIC welfare team also highlighted other sources of support, including the Hub of Hope, the UK’s largest mental health support directory. The Hub of Hope brings together local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health services in one accessible place.
Keith Large, Supervisory Technician, Loughborough College, said:
“We had a really great day with the team from the EIC and have had some great feedback from both students and staff about how useful they found the EIC’s talk. We would highly recommend any college to get the EIC involved!”
