Job chance for school leavers
COMPRESSOR equipment firm Thorite is championing apprenticeship training – as an alternative to university for school leavers with good qualifications.
The company, which has a site at Barge Street in Huddersfield, said many school leavers preferred an occupational apprenticeship with a company providing support and encouragement as well as an interesting career once the apprenticeship is completed.
Over the past 10 years, seven apprentices have started and completed their training and most of them are still working for the company.
Marketing and engineering director Ross Gowler said: “Long ago, a traditional apprenticeship was always viewed as a training programme for a career in engineering, carpentry or one of the shipbuilding or construction professions - but not now.
“While we have apprentices in engineering, we see the Modern Apprenticeships, which include IT and marketing, as being just as important to the future of Thorite.”
Two of the latest to complete their apprenticeships are Josef Cotterill, who has completed his marketing apprenticeship and recently passed his NVQ Level 3, and Dominik Hull, who chose an apprenticeship in IT.
Josef said a marketing role with Thorite was a far better proposition than a marketing degree from university with no guarantee of a job after three years.
Speaking of his interest in IT, Dominik said: “My interest in the IT industry is all about the never ending cycle – always having to learn something new or how the latest technologies work.
“I also love helping people, especially helping with end user problems, helping them solve their problems so that they can get on with their job. Plus IT is pretty much going to be around for a while as things never stop progressing.”
Family-owned Thorite, founded in 1850, is the UK’s largest distributor of pneumatic/compressed air products and process systems. Based in Bradford, it has sales and service centres at locations including Huddersfield, Leeds, Sheffield and Doncaster. HUDDERSFIELD-BASED TaxAssist Accountants has expanded its team with the appointment of apprentice Ceara Stephenson.
Ceara (pictured) has joined the Lockwood-based business after completing her AS levels at St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy in Dewsbury. She will learn on the job while studying one day a week to gain her AAT Accounting Technician qualifications.
Nick Brook, owner Accountants in Huddersfield, said: “Too often young people leave university or college with no real experience of working life, whereas apprenticeships allow them to train in their chosen career and also gain invaluable work experience.
“We are delighted to welcome Ceara to the team and use our experience to support her through her qualifications.”
The team, which has been providing tax and accountancy advice and services to local businesses for more than 11 years, has more than 500 clients across Huddersfield and recently opened a second premises in Barnsley.