From February 3–9 the apprenticeship community comes together to celebrate the impact apprenticeships have on individuals, employers and the economy.
Commenting on the work of Samworth’s apprentices, group executive director Paul Davey said: “Our apprentices are very much doing real jobs, getting high-quality learning opportunities and making a positive impact on our business.
“We have a great variety of apprenticeship opportunities, ranging from programmes for school-leavers and young people, through to more life-long learning opportunities for colleagues across all age ranges and at different career stages.”
Apprentice guests
Apprentices from across the manufacturer’s business were on hand to share their experiences with the business.
Tian, apprentice food and drink maintenance engineer, joined Samworth in 2018 as a school-leaver and is working toward a Level 3 qualification in electrical and mechanical engineering.
“For me, being an apprentice is a great opportunity, because you get to learn a trade and earn a living at the same time. I’ve learned huge amounts in my first year as an apprentice,” said Tian.
Operational management apprentice Alex described his experience working in Samworth’s process development department.
Skills, experiences and confidence
“I’m being given the opportunity to learn new skills, gain new experiences and to develop my confidence,” Alex explained. “Along the way, I’m discovering that it’s important to take all the opportunities that come my way and not to worry about how many questions I ask.”
The message for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week was ‘Making an impact, not the tea’ with a focus on shaking up parents’, youngsters’ and society in general’s outdated view on what apprenticeships are.
Meanwhile, poultry meat producer Moy Park is growing its talent pool and has some exciting plans on the cards for next year. Quality assurance auditor Megan Afford and Nicky Taylor, head of talent and employee experience at Moy Park, explain what they gain from apprenticeships.
