Featured Apprentice Story

We are a Food Carton Manufacturer, Harry operates a technical machine which puts Windows onto Cartons such as Cake Boxes, Sandwich Boxes which are for all the Major UK supermarkets.

Harry joined our Business aged 14 as a work experience student from a local Studio school, we work with the Studio school as their focus is on less academic students and they focus on a work based route into work and need local Employers support offering 18 Month work experience placements for 1 day per week.

Harry joined us in our Finishing Department which is where the Food Cartons are essentially finished, Windowed, Glued and out the door. Harrys work ethic from day one as a Work experience student was incredible, always here, on time, listened to his team and worked well. It was clear Harry was one to watch as a potential Apprentice.

When Harry's Work experience placement came to an end we offered him an Apprenticeship, we met with his Mum who showed concerns for Harry potentially not achieving his GCSE's and was concerned this would affect his opportunity. We reassured Harrys Mum that his work ethic as a 14-16 year old is what was important to us, the rest we can teach with our Training Partner at the BPIF.

Harry joined us as a full time apprentice the summer after his GCSE's in September 2019, he started learning to run our Glue Machines and later transitioned to run our Window Patch Machines along side completing a Print Finishing Apprenticeship with the BPIF. Harry worked so hard, to be able to run these machines is no mean feat, its tough as not only do they have to operate the Machines they are also responsible for quality, no one wants a cake or a sandwich on the supermarket shelf with a wonky window, the product would be stale, so it can be pressurised.

Harry turned 18 in 2021, he worked with us to transition onto our shift pattern which is rotating days and nights, now aged 19 he works the full shift pattern, runs the machine independently and has a Finishing Assistant reporting to him, we couldn't be more proud of him. Whilst education is important, its also important to recognise and work with peoples capabilities ensuring as a nation we have opportunities for young people.

Harry is an absolute credit, he worked and supported our business through out the Pandemic, always turned up and without future Harrys our business would be in trouble. I look forward to working with Harry to further develop in our business.