Statistics from early 2014 showed that 1.4 million applications had been made for apprenticeships over 12 months, and they are becoming increasingly popular year on year. The mutual benefits of an apprenticeship are clear to both the employer and the apprentice, with over 70% of employers saying that apprentices have boosted their service or product.
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Apprenticeships at ReAgent
As a responsible employer, ReAgent has always encouraged professional development for staff at all levels and we have welcomed a number of apprentices onto our team.
Our Systems Manager, Graham Bayliss, and Sales Director, Darren Wilson, are examples of how support from the business has helped career development for committed and ambitious individuals, as these members of staff joined us at apprentice level and have worked their way up through the business.
Continuing this trend, ReAgent are investing more time in apprentices such as Sales admin apprentices amd Lab technician apprentices. We will soon be adding more chemical production apprentices to our ranks.
Apprentices bring a fresh approach to the workplace, and as an established business, we can give our apprentices a good grounding in the roles they are placed into. Most apprentices complete advanced level NVQ 3 courses as part of their course, and in some roles, further education such as BTEC and HNC level qualifications are on offer as day release college courses.
Our experienced staff can support our apprentices on a day to day basis, and provide applicable training to the specific role undertaken.
Apprentices bring a fresh approach to the workplace, and as an established business, we can give our apprentices a good grounding in the roles they are placed into.
Meet the Apprentice – Rebecca
Rebecca joined ReAgent in September 2013 as a Sales Admin apprentice, following a somewhat dramatic career change! Here, she talks about why an apprenticeship was the right choice for her and what she is gaining from her experience
Tell me about how you ended up working at ReAgent
I started a career in the beauty industry and I did an NVQ level 2 and level 3 in make-up. I worked at a spa before here, but I hit 19 and thought I fancied a bit of a career change- it wasn’t for me! So, after several years in beauty I decided to go into sales.
I started looking into apprenticeships because I thought I’d rather go into somewhere where I’m getting paid, rather than full-time education. I found ReAgent when I was looking through an apprenticeships website. I went for a couple of interviews and was offered the job, luckily!
How are you finding your apprenticeship?
I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship. I started in September 2013 so I’ve been here 8 months. I’ve learnt several things whilst I’ve been here; sales orders, answering the telephones (which I hated before working here!), and now I’m putting on quotes and dealing with customers a lot more. It’s really nice to look back and see how I’ve progressed.
I found the apprenticeship to be a really good thing to go to because you’re not just at a college learning. You’re getting experience at the same time and meeting different people, as well as seeing how you can work in an actual work environment. There are a lot of benefits to doing an apprenticeship.
One thing that drew me to ReAgent is the fact that it’s a family-owned business and they really look after the people that work there, because they want the best for them and the company. It’s a nice, close-knit place where everyone pulls together and that’s something you don’t get in bigger companies where you can get lost in the hustle and bustle of every day.
It’s a nice, close-knit place where everyone pulls together and that’s something you don’t get in bigger companies where you can get lost in the hustle and bustle of every day.
What’s next for you?
I’m looking on staying at ReAgent for quite some time. It’s somewhere that I enjoy working; I feel comfortable here and I’ve got quite a lot of responsibilities. I’ve gained an NVQ level 2 in Business Administration here, which sets me up for the sales side of things that I’ve been training in.
Once I’ve finished my qualification and go into the real world, I’ll be looking to do a sales admin role and then it’s all about working your way up the career ladder. There’s the possibility of looking into doing a level 3 qualification in Business Administration after this, but for now I’m just enjoying the career and looking forward to what could happen.
Find out more about careers in chemistry in our chemistry careers resources hub.
