National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is set to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The theme for the 15th NAW is ‘build the future’ and Windsor Materials Handling has kicked off the week by announcing the launch of its 2022 apprenticeship programme.
We are also using it as an opportunity to promote the opportunities they present and have spent some time reflecting on how our apprenticeship schemes have helped us to develop and grow a qualified workforce from the day we opened our doors in 1976.
Investing in our young communities
We have a long-standing commitment to recruiting local talent and upskilling through training and apprenticeships. It’s crucial that we as a business encourage the uptake of traditional trades, such as engineering, and as such we’re proud to have offered 13 apprentices’ roles across the country last year alone, offering great opportunity and a chance to progress successful careers from a young age.
“Our aim is to have a positive impact within our communities in every aspect of what we do. That includes how we recruit into our business which is now 105 engineers strong, 12% of which are currently on a forklift training apprenticeship and our plan is to grow that to 20% in 2022.
Apprenticeship schemes are a productive and effective way to grow and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workplace and we’re delighted to be announcing a drive to place a further 20 roles this year, delivering on our commitments to provide opportunities to young people nationwide” ~ Managing Director, Jonathan Burton
The three-year apprenticeships are run in partnership with F-Tec, a dedicated training facility, that offers an extensive range of forklift engineering programmes and support our apprentices throughout their training; teaching new skills, mentoring and helping them forge fulfilling careers.
Karl Baum of F-TEC says, “Our partnership with Windsor Materials Handling has helped a number of next-generation engineers get the training they require through the apprenticeship scheme. Windsor Materials Handling have sourced many of their own engineers from the apprentices they have taken on, which is a testament to the quality of the candidates upon completion of their apprenticeship. We look forward to the next intake this year and are proud to be working with Windsor Materials Handling to help close the skills gap faced by our industry.”
Career pathways
As a business, it’s important for us to emphasise the real-life career opportunities that apprenticeships hold. Ollie Clarke, now Service Manager at our Immingham branch, joined in 2007 as an apprentice and had a clear vision from then on where he wanted to be.
“I joined Windsor with a real passion to develop a career in engineering and was attracted by the potential to earn whilst I developed a tangible skillset. Whilst initially the wages seem low compared to jobs which don’t require a skill, I always had my mind on the earning potential I would have when I qualified and Windsor have supported that ambition throughout,” says Ollie.
Our longest standing employee, Ian Stone, joined in 1976 when owner Gerry Burton first started the business. With over 40 years in service at Windsor, Ian who remains on his tools to this day, is a shining example of the loyalty you gain from employees when you invest in them in those early days.
“I would encourage anyone considering an apprenticeship in engineering to join Windsor, they have supported me throughout my career lifetime and I have watched the business succeed and grow from a single branch in Hull to a business with 13 branches nationwide. I thank Gerry for the opportunity he gave me all those years ago” says Ian.
Current opportunities
Windsor are delighted to continue their investment into the industry through the development of young talent and a pleased to announce that we are looking to recruit 17 engineering apprentices to add to the 13 already on its team.
