We’ve been celebrating everything that apprentices contribute to Ideal Standard during National Apprenticeship Week this week.
We have studying and qualified apprentices at levels three to seven throughout our organisation on courses such as leadership, sales, finance, HR and business improvement.
Five completed their course during 2023 and currently we have 25 who are studying towards their qualification.
While they were originally seen as a way for a tradesman to train up a young “lad”, apprenticeships have expanded and extended to become the most popular approach to on-the-job training in the UK. Apprenticeships are still available at GCSE and A-level equivalent, but they are also delivered at the same level as qualifications like higher national diplomas, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees.
As a larger business we pay an Apprenticeship Levy, which is effectively a tax paid into a pot that is distributed to fund apprenticeships. Ideal Standard uses this money to support the development of our own employees and it also goes to help smaller businesses with theirs too.
Senior HR Business Partner Vikki Atkin said: “The levy is a great way of being able to support our people with reaching their professional goals through accredited qualifications at the same time as working and gaining experience.
“We have worked hard to invest our levy to meet both individual aspirations and business needs and are currently in the process of setting up a new Level Three Team Leader cohort that is gaining lots of positive interest.
Vikki added: “We are also exploring ways to support smaller employers within our industry with the investment of our levy to help in strengthening the future of our field.
“Congratulations to all who have recently attained qualifications and good luck to all those studying.”
This National Apprenticeship Week, we’ve been asking our current apprentices what they think of their course and the opportunity to “earn while you learn”.
Name: Lydia Burgess
Job title: HR and Data Administrator
Qualification: Level Five People Professional Apprenticeship
“Ideal Standard are currently supporting me with completing my Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship and have been nothing but amazing. The apprenticeship allows me to not only gain my level Five CIPD certification but on the job learning, allowing me to be exposed to areas of HR that I wouldn’t have gained experience on without such a supportive team. The apprenticeship is allowing me to coordinate projects to gain experience in each element of people practice. My line manager has been full of encouragement at every step of the way so far and I am looking forward to continuing my apprenticeship with the guidance of them and the wider business.”
Name: Kelly Beazer
Job title: Marketing Executive
Qualification: Level Four Marketing Executive
“I’m currently midway through my Marketing Apprenticeship and I am learning such vital skills through the materials and direction from Cambridge Marketing College and whilst continuing my role as Marketing Executive. The Apprenticeship has given me the confidence to poke my head into some areas of the business that I wouldn’t normally feel comfortable to do so. I must say that everyone I speak to within the company has been welcoming, friendly and very informative.”
Name: Jen De-Ste-Croix
Job title: Customer Care Co-Ordinator
Qualification: Level Three Business Administration
“Ideal Standard have been great in helping me achieve my Level Three in Business Administration. This apprenticeship is helping me to expand my knowledge within my role and also learn new things about other sectors of the business along the way. My managers have played a huge part in my success with the apprenticeship by being so adaptive and allowing me to use the work from home initiative to complete my coursework without distractions of the office and attend day courses with the provider. The end point assessments I will need to partake in require me to take charge of a project which I otherwise may not have had the chance to explore so I am really looking forward to getting stuck into this with the support of the business to complete the course.”
Name: Lauren Fenna
Job title: Health, Safety and Environment
Qualification: Level 3 SHE Technician
“My Apprenticeship at Ideal Standard has given me many opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten if I’d gone to university. I’ve been able to explore the practical aspects of the health, safety and environmental role within a manufacturing setting. Due to this I have expanded my knowledge further by linking what I learn online and in lessons to what goes on in the factory. I have been able to work independently and work in a team. I’ve been able to access support from both my college and colleagues. While here I have also been offered training courses such as my NEBOSH qualification (Level Six Environmental Management), carbon literacy training, fire marshall training, first aid training, manual handling training, confined space training and auditor training.”
Pictured top, left to right: Lydia, Jen, Kelly and Lauren.