The benefits of apprenticeships for some of our younger workers are being highlighted as part of National Apprenticeship Week (7th-13th February 2022).
Reflecting on the 15th annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, our Marketing and Business Development Director, Dan Mounsey, says they not only benefit HPP but the school and college-leavers enrolled on them.
He adds: "Apprenticeships enable us to train young people in a way that works best for the business.
"As a company, we are quite unique in what we do, with all the different processes we are almost several businesses in one and to have the opportunity to take young people on and give them experience in various different facets of the business means that as part of their learning, they are also learning about us and our sector.
"But it's also important to give young people a chance. As one of Oldham's largest employers, we see it as our responsibility to give something back to our local community, so we are keen to pursue apprenticeships from that point of view as well," he added.
The celebration of apprenticeships marks the positive impact they can bring to employers, individuals, and the economy.
HPP has a history of commitment to skills and training at all levels, and we have two employees currently enrolled on apprenticeships.
The latest is 19-year-old Josh Burke, from Bardsley, who is completing a City and Guilds Level 2 and 3 course in maintenance engineering through the Oldham Training Centre (OTC), where he is studying on day-release for the next three-and-a-half years.
Nick Eglin, CEO of OTC, says: "National Apprenticeship Week is an important awareness campaign to promote, enrich and support the future growth of apprenticeship opportunities nationally, and demonstrates the true importance and values that employers recognise.
"We have been trading since 1966, staffed with qualified sector-based instructors and assessors ensuring a quality provision, with well-established links with local and regional economic employers supporting the training needs of their businesses."
Josh is the second HPP employee currently doing an apprenticeship along with Ellie McCartney, who is taking a Level 3 NVQ in business administration, attending Oldham College once a month.
She says: "In three words, my time here has been busy, exciting and unpredictable. Every day is different but my normal day consists of arranging collections, inputting orders, moving to different departments - I'm currently in sales but I've previously been in transport and I'm starting to go into accounts.
"To balance my time studying I'm given every Tuesday to complete all my assignments and portfolio, so I find it easy to manage my time between college and work".
Alun Francis, Oldham College Principal and Chief Executive, adds: "We are urging all firms - no matter what their size or sector - to consider taking on an apprentice and giving someone a life-changing opportunity. Our apprentices provide extra productivity, competitiveness and skills in a cost-effective way."
Josh and Ellie join several HPP employees who have completed apprenticeships of late, the most recent being Ethan Forster, from Waterhead in Oldham, who works in Board Production.
Another to benefit from an apprenticeship is HPP maintenance engineer Alex Knight, from Royton in Oldham, who completed a Level 3 City and Guilds mechanical engineering apprenticeship while working in the site maintenance department. He is now waiting to start a HND Level 4 qualification.
Alex and Josh are part our maintenance team led by Ian Banham, from Rochdale, another former apprentice who started with us in 2016, when he arrived with his Level 3 City & Guilds in mechanical engineering from Hopwood Hall in Middleton.
He then went on to complete his Level 4 HNC in Electrical Engineering before acquiring his 18th Edition of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Wiring Regulations - considered to be essential for all professionals working in electrical engineering.
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