Mature apprentice Jared Taylor proves it’s never too late to change trades

When Australian Trade Training College apprentice Jared Taylor walked into Ehlerth Electrical for an interview nearly five years ago, he was already a qualified carpenter looking for a fresh start. In 2025, he walked out with the Apprentice of the Year award.

His employer, Ehlerth Electrical, took home the Bill Bartley Service Excellence Award the same evening at the South Queensland Master Electricians Australia (MEA) 2025 Electrical Industry Excellence Awards — a double win that highlights what happens when the right apprentice meets the right training provider and the right employer.

Electricity runs in Jared’s family, “My grandfather and uncles were all electricians,” he said.  “When I left school, I wanted to do that, but I couldn’t get a job at the time, so I did a carpentry apprenticeship instead.”

Years later, after trying to run his own carpentry business, Jared decided it was time to pursue his original dream. “I wasn’t really enjoying it. Carpentry is very physical, and I was playing hockey at the time, so it was tough on the body. Electrical is a bit less demanding in that regard.”

A casual conversation with his housemate, an electrician at Ehlerth Electrical, led to an opportunity that would change Jared’s career trajectory. An interview was arranged with Director Brent Ehlerth, who runs the electrical contracting business across Greater South East Queensland.

For Brent, taking on a mature-age apprentice who’d already completed one trade wasn’t without risk, but he saw something in Jared worth investing in. It’s an approach that reflects the company’s broader philosophy and their choice of training partner.

Since 2020, Ehlerth Electrical has partnered with Australian Trade Training College (ATTC), part of the IntoWork Group, for all their apprentice training needs. The relationship has proven so successful that as the company expands into Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast, ATTC remains their training provider of choice.

“We’ve probably had over half a dozen apprentices now complete their trade through ATTC and all of them have come out raving about how they got exactly what they were hoping to get out of their training,” he said.

What sets ATTC apart, according to Brent, is the individualised approach and the flexible training. “One of the benefits of ATTC with our apprentices is that we have an individual trainer assigned to each apprentice. We can call this trainer and see where they’re up to and have customised plans put together to make sure they’re getting through their training on time and finishing their apprenticeship within the four years,” he said.

“We found ATTC really easy to deal with from the start. For us being a really reactive company where one week of work can be slow, next week it’s really busy, that flexibility was really important to us.”

For the RTO Manager at ATTC Pauline Grant-Smith the success of apprentices like Jared demonstrates what’s possible when training is tailored to individual needs, “When employers, training providers, and apprentices all work together with clear communication and shared goals, you get outcomes like Jared’s award. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our apprentices recognised at industry level – it validates everything we’re working toward.”

For Jared, choosing Australian Trade Training College as his training provider was a game-changer. As a mature apprentice with a mortgage, flexibility wasn’t just convenient – it was essential, “Sometimes in the afternoons, when we had half a day done or it was raining, we were able to duck around the corner and do a couple of things if we needed to.”

The practical experience with industry-trained instructors sealed the deal, “ATTC have trainers with real trade experience, who have worked in the industry, so you’re learning from people who’ve actually done it. When you’re out in the field later, it’s already familiar because you’ve seen it before.”

Jared credits much of his success to Ehlerth Electrical’s employee-focused culture. The company went above and beyond to support his apprenticeship. “I was fortunate enough to get a work car, which was a big help as a mature apprentice with a mortgage. I didn’t have to use my own fuel, and there were opportunities to work extra hours if I needed the money.”

The variety of work at Ehlerth Electrical also accelerated his learning. “One week I’ll be on a commercial project doing an echo, the next I’ll be doing solar, then maintenance work. That variety is really good for learning.”

When Brent and Ehlerth nominated Jared for Apprentice of the Year in his fourth year, it was recognition of more than just technical skill, “I think what set me apart was my ability to talk to the trainers and ask questions. Being a mature apprentice and having completed my time before the exams also helped.”

When asked what aspiring apprentices should focus on, Jared’s advice is to ‘keep asking questions’, “No question is a stupid question. Ask, understand, don’t be afraid to try things, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You’re not learning if you’re not asking.”

With both carpentry and electrical qualifications under his belt, Jared is excited to have options  “Having both trades is super handy. If I ever go back into my own business, being able to do both carpentry and electrical work is massive.”

He recommends ATTC without reservation. “The ability to tailor your own learning is extremely helpful, especially for people who are motivated and want to succeed in their career.”