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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Three Scottish electrical businesses will each receive a £6,000 grant through Powering Potential, an initiative launched by SELECT and Luceco Group to help employers with first-year electrical installation apprentice costs. The awards were presented on 25 September 2026 at The Balmoral in Edinburgh, according to SELECT.
Which firms and apprentices received the grants?
SELECT reported that the three recipients are longstanding member firms with a record of recruiting and developing apprentices. It described them as small and medium-sized enterprises.
| Area | Electrical firm | Apprentice supported | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | V C Electrical, Gullane | Reece Michie | £6,000 |
| West | T Walsh Contracts Ltd, Ayr | Thomas Shirkie | £6,000 |
| North | A B Electrical Scotland Ltd, Aboyne | Ritchie Pirie | £6,000 |
Together, the three grants total £18,000.
What will the money help pay for?
The grants are intended to help employers meet the costs of employing first-year electrical installation apprentices, with wage costs during college periods a particular focus. The announcement does not give a spending breakdown or say that the grants cover any specific cost beyond this broad purpose.
Tony Walsh, owner of T Walsh Contracts Ltd, described the pressure that college attendance can place on a small employer: “The cost of taking on an apprentice is massive – in the first year they are in college for 17 weeks, which can make it unaffordable for some small businesses.” The 17-week figure is Walsh’s account of the first year for his apprentice, not a schedule stated for all apprenticeships.
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Who developed the initiative?
SELECT and Luceco Group launched Powering Potential with support from the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT). Luceco also donated electrical equipment to the apprentices, but the announcement does not identify the items.
Luceco Group UK Trade Sales Director Ian Hunter said: “As someone who started my own career as an apprentice, I know first-hand the opportunities that apprenticeship training can create.”
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SELECT Managing Director Sharon Miller said: “We are extremely grateful to Luceco Group for helping us make this meaningful investment in the future of our sector.”
Reece Michie said: “I am looking forward to gaining practical experience on site, learning from qualified electricians, developing new skills and working towards becoming a fully qualified electrician.”
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What the announcement says about apprentice recruitment
SELECT says responses to its survey identified high wages and low employer funding as major barriers to recruiting apprentices. The announcement does not provide the survey’s sample size, date, methodology or numerical results, so it does not establish how widespread those barriers are.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can employers apply for a grant?
The announcement names the selected recipients but gives no application process or eligibility rules for other businesses. It also does not say whether Powering Potential will run again. Employers should not treat this announcement as an open or recurring grant programme.
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