We've welcomed three new apprentices to our business, highlighting the variety of apprenticeship routes available here for people across different ages, trades and professions, including manufacturing, design, maintenance, warehousing, distribution, sales, accounts, IT and marketing.
In addition, one of our existing staff members is embarking on higher-level accounting training through a professional apprenticeship programme.
Carole Hamnett-Sadler, our HR Manager, said the apprentices are working at our Oldham HQ in different departments including furniture panel manufacturing, site maintenance and financial accounts.
She said: "Apprenticeships cover a range of trade and professions and are ideal routes for many people to learn while they earn. Apprenticeships also offer good alternative routes for people looking for something different to college and university.
"Our apprenticeship programmes are being conducted with training providers including Oldham College, North Lancs Training, Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale, Rochdale Training Centre and Mantra Learning.
"One of the new apprentices is Ethan Forster, aged 17, from Waterhead in Oldham, who is working in Panel Production. Ethan came to us through North Lancs Training Group, which approached us to organise an initial eight-week placement for him with a view to taking him on as an apprentice, if everything went well.
"Ethan has really developed since his arrival here and we've been pleased with his work. He initially worked on packing, shrink wrapping and banding of boards and we will be looking to train him on some of the production machinery."
Callum Hurn, from Rochdale, has started an apprenticeship with our Fittings department after completing 100 hours of work placement experience via Mantra Learning. Since arriving, Callum has been working closely with our Oldham works manager Steve Hannan.
Meanwhile, in our Site Maintenance department, Alex Knight, aged 21, from Royton in Oldham, is progressing well into his apprenticeship programme. As part of the team that maintains and upgrades machinery and facilities across the whole Oldham site, Alex has acquired a considerable number of skills to build upon. Alex's apprenticeship programme is being organised with Rochdale Training Centre.
Elsewhere in the company, Accounts and Credit Control team member Damon Lees has started a Level 4 Association of Accountant Technicians (AAT) professional apprenticeship with Oldham College. Damon joined our business in 2018, and had previously self-funded his further accounting qualifications.
