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Appreciating Apprentices

IMG_4502With National Apprenticeship Week just having finished we spoke to one decorator who believes strongly that taking on apprentices has benefits for both the youngsters and the employer.

“I first started out as an apprentice, learning the skills to become a painter and decorator over thirty five years ago”, says Tony Newman who has been running his own painting and decorating business. “I’ve been self-employed for over thirty years, and I now train apprentices of my own with Barnardo’s. Eight of the lads who trained with me have gone on to work in the sector, while two have gone on to set up their own successful painting and decorating firms”.

“I’ve currently got one apprentice, Nicky. He’s only twenty and he’s just completed his first year- he’s on a two year stint with us. So far he’s made good progress, he always turns up to jobs on time, he’s courteous, and he’s now able to complete some jobs by himself, which is big help for the other lads in the team. It’s heartening to see Nicky develop, you can see he gets a strong sense of personal achievement when he complete a job himself”.

“We are a small outfit, there’s only four of us in the team so having an apprentice can really make a difference. It makes good business sense to take on an apprentice, if you’ve got a big job, it’s useful to have an extra pair of hands to help fetch and carry. Our apprentices constantly develop, so they’ve always got new skills and fresh ideas to bring to the table. It also helps that the council covers half their wages”.

“I look for apprentices who can handle a brush and a roller, and have a general respect for people’s properties. We do a lot of work on domestic property, so it’s important that my apprentices are polite and understand how to behave in someone else’s home. Enthusiasm to learn is a bonus, because the more an apprentice does the better they become”.

Tony concludes “For other businesses looking to take on apprentices, I’d definitely recommend you consider taking one on. I started out as an apprentice, and have gone on to set up my own successful business. With the right support, you never know what your apprentice might go on to achieve”.

Appreciating Apprentices
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