uploaded by Chris Dodds - Sales & Marketing Manager with Thorne & Derrick International
Experts in Apprenticeships and Training
Thorne & Derrick International, based in the North East of England, are enthusiastic supporters of Apprenticeships and work closely with Northern Skills Group to recruit new and next generation staff into the business for integration into our future growth strategy.
The structured training programmes provided by Northern Skills Group give the Apprentice a chance to enter the workplace while working towards a recognised qualification – to gain, then develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their chosen career in a competitive jobs market.
It’s a fact getting into employment earlier means there is increased potential for quick career progression.
Gaining work experience increases employability and strengthens their CV.
This powerful combination of classroom learning and workplace experience nurtures a broader skill-set: developing people skills, problem solving skills and technical skills.
Stephanie Coleman, Director of Business Developments and Partnerships at Northern Skills Group is thrilled by the company’s commitment to apprenticeships, she said:
“Thorne and Derrick are a great example of how apprenticeships can really benefit businesses and help train the workforce of tomorrow, we’re passionate about aligning our offering to the skills needed out in industry and it’s great to see apprentices succeed and make a real difference.”
Meet the Thorne & Derrick Apprentices – Morgan, Carl, Thomas and Megan…..
Morgan Gent
Apprenticeship Programme – Customer Service
Step Up. And Up…
Morgan originally started his career journey with us 2 years ago serving a Customer Service Apprenticeship and has now progressed to Internal Sales Engineer providing valuable support to our business and customers.
Morgan proficiently oversees the specification and sale of technical products for use in explosive atmospheres and hazardous area industries.
Why did you choose to study an apprenticeship?
I chose to study an apprenticeship as an alternative to continuing with my University studies to enable me to get into work and gain valuable experience I would not have gained otherwise at University.
What do you enjoy most about your apprenticeship and how does it compare to traditional study?
I enjoyed my apprenticeship as it allowed me to gain valuable workplace experience within the real world and taught me skills that I may not have otherwise learnt or got to improve via University. Apprenticeship programmes have enabled me to work full time along traditional studying to pass my qualification which has meant I have had to make no decisions between one or the other.
What would you like to do after your apprenticeship?
I completed my apprenticeship in March 2019 and proceeded to move to a full time position at Thorne & Derrick.
How have you found the support from Northern Skills Group during your apprenticeship?
My tutor Amanda was great throughout my entire apprenticeship from start to finish. She laid on additional visits to my workplace to support me when things got difficult and helped me to complete my apprenticeship programme, gain my qualification and receive a full time position at Thorne & Derrick.
Carl Cox
Apprenticeship Programme – Customer Service
Career Searching…
Why did you choose to study an apprenticeship?
I chose to do an apprenticeship because I am looking for a career and I believe an apprenticeship provides the best opportunity for this due to the support provided. I learn at my best by putting theory into practice, and an apprenticeship includes doing both therefore by the end of the apprenticeship I will be comfortable to do the job independently which is my end goal.
What do you enjoy most about your apprenticeship and how does it compare to traditional study?
Slightly more laid back and puts me in a position to be independent of my own work load, enforced by use of Smart Assessor where I can track progress on assignments.
What would you like to do after your apprenticeship?
To go full time at Thorne and Derrick and pursue a career as a Sales Engineer.
Thomas Heron 
Apprenticeship Programme – Customer Service (Sales Engineer)
Earning While Learning….
Why did you choose to study an apprenticeship?
The reason I chose to study an apprenticeship is I can learn whilst starting a new a career. I receive off and on the job training and attend college fortnightly.
What do you enjoy most about your apprenticeship and how does it compare to traditional study?
The one thing I enjoy the most about my apprenticeship is the full time employment of Monday to Friday. It is more beneficial than traditional study as means you start working at an earlier age than some might.
What would you like to do after your apprenticeship?
After I have completed my apprenticeship I hope to continue my career within the industry.
How have you found the support from Northern Skills Group during your apprenticeship?
The support from Northern Skills has been excellent and very helpful.
Megan Atkinson
Digital Marketing Apprenticeship
“It is the best decision I have made”
I chose to study an apprenticeship as I am ambitious and wanted the opportunity to develop my skills into a professional career. Having previously experienced various forms of study and part-time jobs, none of which have advanced further, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and enter into an apprenticeship. It is the best decision I have made. What I enjoy the most about my apprenticeship is my supportive colleagues and the ability to be myself.
Thorne & Derrick, Northern Skills Group and Just Williams Ltd are members of NEPIC – award winning organisation working with the chemical-using industries in the North East of England.
I love my role because everyday I get to do what I enjoy, and a lot of the work entails my personal hobbies. I have learned that apprenticeships are flexible and are great for someone who wants to combine a full-time role with study and continuously develop new skills.
My job is full of amazing opportunities and I feel that I am in the right place to grow my career – something which I feel does not compare to traditional study. The hands-on experience to support my studies is a fantastic aspect of my apprenticeship and helps me to learn and grow both professionally and as a person.
After my apprenticeship I hope to advance into a higher-level course while staying on in employment with my company. I thoroughly enjoy my role and the day to day variety of tasks and I am excited to grow with the company and progress in my Marketing career.
I have found Northern Skills to be very supportive with my apprenticeship through mentor visits and flexible learning time. The continuous support is unbeatable. #BlazeATrail.
Pictured: Trail Blazers. Thorne & Derrick’s Sales & Marketing Apprenticeships recently with Jessica Williams of Just Williams Ltd, the North East of England leading provider of Masterclass & Workshop based Sales Training – read more about their sales solutions for your business.
An annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England and is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country.
Northern Skills Group is an expert provider of apprenticeships, employer-led training and retraining and works with over 2000 businesses in the North East and Yorkshire. Their specialist team of industry trained experts deliver courses across the North including Newcastle, Gateshead, Middlesbrough and North Yorkshire as well as dentistry apprenticeship programmes in York. NSG offer an extensive range of courses and programmes including engineering, dentistry, accountancy, electrical, leadership and management, customer service, manufacturing and many more.
uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales | Marketing Manager
Europacable represents the largest cable manufacturers in the world, as well as highly specialised small and medium sized businesses from across Europe.
This series of Blogs have been written by MV Cable Accessory Manufacturers to help promote ‘best practice’ in the installation of their products including joints, terminations and connectors for medium voltage power cable systems.
It is principally for MV cable installers but hopefully will be instructive for all involved in the construction and operation of medium voltage (MV) cable networks. Cable networks cannot be built without jointing cables together and terminating them to substation electrical equipment (switchgear/transformers) or overhead lines.
The long-term reliability of the MV cable network therefore depends critically on both the cable and the MV cable accessories installed on it.
A fundamental difference between cables and accessories is that cables are made in factories under closely controlled conditions, whereas cable accessories have to be installed on site by competent cable jointers from a kit of components.
This puts a heavy responsibility on the MV cable accessory installer to do an accurate and skilled job, frequently under unfavourable conditions. It is an unfortunate fact that cable network faults are often located at accessory positions, and in the majority of cases the cause of the fault is inaccurate or poor quality installation by the jointer.
The articles listed below highlight the more important aspects of the installation of MV cable accessories from the point of view of their effect on system reliability. The writers of this document hope that it will be found both useful and interesting, and that it will contribute to the increasing reliability of medium voltage networks.
Thorne & Derrick, Specialist Distributors of LV HV Cable Jointing & Electrical Equipment are leading UK Suppliers of 3rd Party Type Tested MV Cable Accessories (Nexans | 3M | Pfisterer). To promote MV Cable System Integrity, we have Partnered with BASEC – British Approvals Service for Cables – their MV Cable Approval Scheme is committed to combating Non-Compliant cables entering the market-place and introducing potentially catastrophic future O&M problems.
‘Medium voltage’ (MV) in this document means power-frequency system voltages from Um = 7,2 kV to Um = 42 kV where Um is the ‘highest system voltage’ for which the cable and their accessories are designed.
Within this range, the common rated voltages of European networks are 10kV and 11kV (Um = 12 kV); 20kV and 22kV (Um = 24kV); 30kV and 33kV (Um = 36kV).
International technical specifications (CENELEC and IEC) refer to values of Um rather than country-specific rated voltages.
This series of articles refers both to modern polymeric insulated cables (XLPE) and to historic paper insulated cables (PILC).
Though the PILC cables are now rarely installed in Europe they are common in existing utility networks and there is a continuing need to connect and joint new polymeric cables to them via ‘transition joints’.
MV cable accessories mentioned in this series of Blogs are of the following types:
• Cable Joints for connecting cables of the same design (straight joints) or different design (transition joints), connecting a branch cable to a main cable (branch joint) or insulating a cable end (stop end)
• Cable Terminations making permanent connections between cable and electrical equipment or overhead line
• Screened Separable Connectors for terminating cable to equipment via standardised equipment bushings
The most common MV accessory technologies in use today are heat-shrink, cold-shrink and ‘push-on’ systems, all based on polymeric materials with specific characteristics according to their function in the accessory. Conductor connectors are compression (crimp cable lugs) or bolted (mechanical shearbolt) designs. These technologies, and the important aspects of their installation, will be addressed in the following Blogs.
Founded in 1991, Europacable is the voice of all leading European cable producers.
The product scope of Europacable members covers the full range of energy and communication cables.
With our future being ever more electrified and digitalised, high-quality cables will be the core backbone of Europe´s energy and telecommunication infrastructures. Europacable is proud to represent the producers of these high performance products at European level.
Globally our members employ over 80.000 people of which more than 50% in Europe generating a worldwide turnover over € 70 billion in 2016.
LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt
Thorne & Derrick International are specialist distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Duct Sealing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, substation, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.
THORNE & DERRICK Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV HV
uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales | Marketing Manager
According to Mckinsey & Company under the current growth trajectory, EV producers could almost quadruple production in 2020, moving 4.5 million units, around 5 percent of the overall global light electric vehicle market.
This rapid increase in the number of electric and hybrid vehicles has introduced and imposed specific electrical safety regulations upon the EV industry.
For example in France, the electrical safety regulations are now codified according to UTE C 18-550 (♦) to provide clear legislative guidance on the responsibilities of the EV industry to prevent electrocution and electrical injury to workers.
Thorne & Derrick can support the implementation of electrical safety precautions with automotive manufacturers, dealership networks and garage repair specialists – products specifically designed to prevent electrocution of mechanics:
EV Safety Products
♦ UTE C 18-550 (Electrical safety instructions for operations on vehicles and motor vehicles with thermal, electric or hybrid motorization having on-board electrical energy).
Thorne & Derrick stock and supply EV Kits for electrical risk prevention – contact us for further information or to place an order.
Safe Working On Electrical & Hybrid Vehicles
Do you know that by 2030 electrical vehicle sales will represent 40% of the total sales in Europe & China? This impacts the maintenance approach and safety equipment requirements to enable the industry to work safely. Therefore, CATU as specialist manufacturers of Safety Equipment for the prevention of electrical risks has designed some dedicated kits including insulated tools for live operations, PPE for providing comfort of use and voltage detectors. Discover our complete solution set in the e-mobility brochure.
West Midlands Police approached Thorne & Derrick with a requirement for Electrical Safety Kits for forensic collision investigation at life changing and predominantly fatal road collisions. Training has been upgraded with vehicle examinations of electric / hybrid vehicles but no safety equipment had ever been provided. Thorne & Derrick rectified this EV safety shortcoming when the risk was identified by a new member of staff and the CATU KIT-VE-BCL has been adopted by the police force.
Based in the UK, Thorne & Derrick International are the largest Stockist Distributor of CATU Electrical Safety Equipment protecting workers on underground cables, overhead powerlines, switchgear and substations at LV, MV and HV.
uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales | Marketing Manager
Thorne and Derrick, the UK’s Specialist Distributor of LV HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt have provided customised MV Jointers Tool Kits to JDR Cable Systems – JDR based in the UK are world leading cable manufacturers for high performance subsea and power cables for the renewable energy sector.
The Jointers Tool Kits are designed to provide their jointers with the specialist 
tools needed to prepare inter array cables prior to the installation of joints, terminations or connectors to the highest standard – included in the customised tool sets are tools to enable the removal of the cable outersheath, insulation (XLPE) and semicon screens.
Housed in Peli Protector Cases – these are rugged crushproof and waterproof cases to provide protection to the tool sets when in transit.
JDR Cables has an impressive portfolio of Inter Array Cable Termination and Test work up to 66kV.
Using their own Approved Tools & Equipment to complete all aspects of the work scope allows JDR to guarantee 
the quality and consistency of tooling.
Expertise comes from their in-house MV Jointers and Fibre Optic Technicians.
Field Services, part of JDR’s Renewable Energy Product and Installation Services group, supports the renewables industry; from project installation consultancy, to pre-commissioning, with full product life cycle support including repair and maintenance.
Market Leading Precision Engineered Cable Preparation Tools for Medium & High Voltage Power & IAC Cables
https://www.jdrcables.com/product-and-installation-services-4/
See how T&D support, supply and service the Renewable Energy industry.
LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt
Thorne & Derrick International are specialist distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Duct Sealing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, substation, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.
THORNE & DERRICK Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV HV
THORNE & DERRICK | LV HV | Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt up to 66kV | Nexans Euromold | 3M Cold Shrink | Pfisterer Connex | Alroc Tools Stockists
Republished from LinkedIn with kind permission of Neil Davies | EA Technology Australia | Helping Owners and Operators of Electrical Assets Improve Reliability and Efficiency
uploaded by Chris Dodds | Thorne & Derrick Sales Marketing Manager
Neil Davies
Partial Discharge (PD) can be classified into 3 main types:
Internal Partial Discharge, occurring inside insulation
Surface Partial Discharge, tracking across insulation
Corona Partial Discharge, from a sharp electrode into gas
Internal PD is the silent defect where there will be no sound, smell or visual indication of a problem prior to failure. If you witness the aftermath of a compound insulated cable box failure, you will see how the build-up of pressure can lead to a very disruptive and dangerous explosion.
Surface PD occurs across the surface of insulation. When alternative materials to porcelain started to be introduced into switchgear and dry cable terminations started being widely introduced, some critical aspects of design and installation were not fully appreciated. This led to a spike in failure rates due to surface PD. When developed, it will produce the crackling and ozone smell.
Corona PD is what we often hear in outdoor switchyards, particularly when humid. Corona at sharp points in switchyards isn’t usually detrimental. However, if corona activity occurs inside enclosed chambers and there is no airflow to remove chemical reactions, then it can lead to the onset of surface PD and problems.
At EA Technology, we’re specialists in asset management solutions for owners and operators of electrical assets. We’re part of a global company, but bring local knowledge and advice in servicing the particular needs of the Australasian and Asia-Pacific market. This includes:
✔ Keeping ageing electricity networks operating reliability and safely.
✔ Adapting to major changes in network transformation, including smart grids, solar, wind and electric vehicles – while keeping costs down for customers.
✔ Predicting and preventing critical plant failures – literally keeping the lights on.
✔ Providing better visibility of the condition of electrical assets to allow for more informed planning and management.
✔ Investigating failure of electrical plants and assets to determine the cause and reduce future risk.
In Australia and the Asia-Pacific, we’ve been active for more than 20 years. Our teams have deep domain knowledge and provide unrivalled support to clients across Australia, New Zealand, China, and South-East Asia.
We are supported by a global team with headquarters in the UK. There, EA Technology was founded in 1966 and has a rich heritage as a ground-breaking research and development organisation serving the electricity industry.
Thorne & Derrick International are specialist distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Duct Sealing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, substation, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.
THORNE & DERRICK Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV HV
Joints, Terminations & Connectors for MV HV Power Networks
Published 15 Oct 2025
Testimonial Organiser | EA Technology Event | Industrial Forum 2025 Title | Keeping Electrical Switchgear Safe Date | 14th October Location | Chester Racecourse By | Chris Dodds (Sales & Marketing Manager at Thorne & Derrick | Co-Exhibitor with...
Published 18 Sep 2025
Thorne & Derrick International, the UK’s leading Specialist Distributor of LV HV Cable Accessories, Tooling & Hazardous Area Electrical Equipment, are celebrating 40 years of supplying products and solutions that ensure the safety and reliability of industrial heating, lighting...
