Young apprentices facing bright future in business
1 Luke Jowsey, Cock of the Walk Hull
The bespoke tailoring workshop’s first apprentice from Hull should have seen his apprenticeship end during lockdown.
When the company joined the Covid-19 fight and all hands were turned to making surgical gowns he stayed on, working 13 hour days, six days a week, seeing it as his duty to the team and the area as he did it voluntarily.
Despite his new skills not being second nature, he was described as holding his own, with energy and enthusiasm making up for lack of experience.
His contribution to the great PPE effort at Cock of the Walk saw his cutting and machine skills advance far beyond a full year apprenticeship and he has been appointed as junior undercutter, working directly under master tailor Gill Long.
Nominating him, she said: “Luke has certainly found his home with us and will continue learning the art of bespoke tailoring with us until he is fully qualified, and we hope he will stay after that too.”
2 Natash Mcdermott, Heald Ltd Hornsea
Joining as sales administration apprentice at the hostile vehicle mitigation systems manufacturer in October 2019, Natasha’s arrival as a graduate coincided with a period of intense growth.
Her initiative to learn the industry, research leads and understand the sector has seen her contribute to marketing blogs, while, such has her progress been, she ably covers the sales supervisor when on leave, dealing with international inquiries across multiple time zones.
She proactively seeks out leads, focusing on new construction activity, and has proved herself to be “indispensable,” leading to a contract offer on completion of her advanced apprenticeship.
Heald managing director Debbie Heald MBE said: “Natasha has been a fantastic addition to the business. She plays a vital role in supporting her colleagues and has really worked hard on developing her confidence, knowledge and skills. She is a well-regarded member of the team and is consistently proactive in helping to support them.”
3 Ruth Walmsley, Blab Digital, Hessle
THE apprentice designer arrived at the
Ergo base having been recommended by
Wyke College, and the faith shown in her in her was understood immediately at interview.
Her pogress is described as outstanding thanks to a can-do attitude, with work on real projects underlining the responsibility afforded and trust earned.
Work on briefs has “knocked clients’ socks off” while she has also been awarded in her day release studies for being an outstanding student.
Using her own initiative to present to clients has been praised and her ability to take on feedback too is noted, while external feedback has been appreciated by the entire team.
Targets set are routinely smashed with “unflappable, positive and creative just three of the characteristics Ruth possesses that impress us,” marketing director Courtney Wood said, adding: “there’s a very bright future ahead for Ruth and we want to celebrate how far she’s come already”.