Skills Minister opens JTL’s £1m Thames Valley Training Centre to boost electrical and low-carbon skills
On Thursday 28 May 2026, Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, visited JTL Thames Valley in Wheatley, Oxfordshire to meet with electrical apprentices, local employers and industry partners, and to see first-hand how JTL is supporting the next generation of skilled tradespeople. She officially declared the centre open with the push of a button – lighting up a plaque wired by a group of JTL apprentices.
The new Thames Valley centre has been completely transformed into a modern, industry-standard training facility, with a dedicated electrical workshop, End Point Assessment preparation space, multiple classrooms and breakout areas. The centre has capacity to train approximately 200 apprentices each year, supporting the development of the skilled electrical workforce needed to meet growing demand across housing, infrastructure and clean energy.
During the visit, the Minister met final-year apprentices preparing for their rigorous End Point Assessment, many employed by small and micro businesses across the region, and saw practical training in action. The visit also showcased JTL’s work to prepare apprentices for emerging technologies, including training on solar and wind farm technologies. The Minister had the opportunity to meet apprentices undertaking continuing professional development with Kewtech, including Freya Taylor, a young female apprentice employed with the UKAEA, who recently won JTL’s Regional Rising Star Award for the Western region.
As part of the visit, the Minister joined discussions with local employers including Bojen Electrical, Haysham Electrical Contractors, Darke & Taylor and Lowe and Oliver, focusing on how more SMEs can be encouraged to recruit apprentices and strengthen the future skills pipeline.
Alongside the training centre, JTL has opened a new eight-bay AM2 Assessment Centre following a further £250,000 investment. The facility will help ease pressure on assessment capacity at a time when waiting times for a first AM2 assessment can reach seven months in some parts of the country.
The event was attended by representatives from DWP Oxfordshire, the Joint Industry Board, Kewtech and JTL’s senior leadership team, including Chairman Sir John Low.
Baroness Smith, Minister for Skills in the Department for Work and Pensions, said:
“Apprenticeships are central to our mission to grow the economy and equip people with the skills they need to succeed, and it was fantastic to meet the young apprentices at JTL’s new Thames Valley training centre.
“This is the kind of dynamic, hands-on environment which will help us produce the skilled workforce of the future – in this case one which will help deliver our housing ambitions and accelerate our transition to clean energy.”
Chris Claydon, Chief Executive of JTL, said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Skills Minister to JTL’s new Thames Valley centre and to see her officially declare it open. This facility represents a major investment in the future of our industry, training around 200 apprentices each year and reinforcing JTL’s unwavering commitment to delivering the highest-quality apprenticeships. As the UK looks to drive economic growth and deliver on its infrastructure ambitions, the need for skilled electricians has never been greater. Dedicated training centres like this are critical to building the workforce required to power that growth.
“The Minister’s engagement with the small and medium-sized employers who make apprenticeships possible was particularly important. These businesses are the backbone of our sector, and we need more of them to step forward so we can unlock even greater opportunities for both learners and employers.
“The creation of an AM2 assessment centre at this facility is another significant step forward. With demand high across the country, this will help more electricians complete their qualifications more quickly, supporting productivity and ensuring businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need.”
JTL’s Thames Valley Training Centre is now fully operational and welcoming apprentices, employers and partners from across the region, supporting the development of a skilled electrical workforce to meet growing demand across the built environment and clean energy sectors.
