Wilson Power Solutions Named Apprenticeship SME of the Year

We are proud to announce that we have won the Apprenticeship SME of the Year Award at the Appris Apprenticeship Awards 2026.

About the Recognition

The winners were announced at a dinner event at Bradford Bulls Stadium on Thursday 22nd October 2026. The awards celebrate the achievements of apprentices, the dedication of the employers who support them and the strength of engineering and manufacturing training across the region.

The Apprenticeship SME of the Year Award, sponsored by Yorkshire Learning Providers, recognises a small or medium employer providing excellent apprenticeship support, development opportunities and a positive environment for engineering talent.

Our apprenticeship programme

Two apprentices who joined us in 2025 are now in their second year, and a further three started in September 2026, bringing our total to five.

All five follow the Engineering Fitter Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard (Electrical/Mechanical) with Appris, a not-for-profit engineering training provider. The four-year programme combines off-the-job training at Appris in Bradford with hands-on learning in our Leeds factory. Along the way, apprentices work towards BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and an EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Every apprentice is supported by experienced colleagues in the workplace and works on real transformer manufacturing from their first year.

Apprenticeships are part of who we are

Apprenticeships run right through our leadership team. Our Managing Director, Erika Wilson, joined the business in 1997 as an electrical apprentice on the shop floor, completing an HNC in Electrical Engineering alongside her training. Speaking to The Times, she described those early years as “cutting your teeth, being alongside the guys, and understanding the product, because you can’t sell something if you don’t know what it is.” She went on to become sole owner and Managing Director in 2021.

Developing the next generation

Our commitment to early careers extends beyond the UK. At Wilson Power Solutions India, we have brought in 50 female Graduate Engineer Trainees to help close the gender gap in electrical engineering.

William McCarroll - Group Operations Director

Wilson Power Solutions

"We are delighted to win this award. Our apprentices bring real energy to the business, and supporting them is one of the best investments we make. Thank you to Appris and to the colleagues who support our apprentices every day."

William McCarroll - Group Operations Director

Wilson Power Solutions

Looking ahead in our 80^th year

As we celebrate 80 years in business, we know our future depends on the people we train today. Demand for transformers is growing as the UK electrifies, and with it the need for skilled engineers who understand how they are built. Our apprentices learn that on real products, alongside colleagues who have been in their shoes.

Join us and make a difference

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