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The Expanded Metal Company has long been a champion of continued learning and training and providing opportunities through apprenticeships.

To celebrate this years’ National Apprenticeship Week, we reflect on some of those opportunities as we put some questions to employees:

Holly Appleby, Security Product Planner and Purchasing (fencing department), completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in Customer Service last summer, with distinctions across the board.

Kalem Ainsley, Technical Manager, began as an Apprentice Machine Setter in 2017 and has held positions such as Technical Engineer and Mechanical CAD Engineer.

Tiegan Cranney, Customer Service Apprentice, started with the company February 2022.

This years’ theme for National Apprenticeship Week is Skills for Life, what skills from your apprenticeship will you hold on to?

Kalem: “For me, I’d say a lot of the skills that I will hold on to are around personal development and are things I can use outside of work such as self-confidence, adaptability and being able to communicate and socialise well. I’ve also developed the ability to problem solve and use critical thinking in my decision making.”

Holly: “I’d agree with Kalem around communication and decision making. These are core skills to have both professionally and personally. And I’d also add that I’ve learnt to be adaptable to work on short-time scales which you can really only do if you have good knowledge and can make informed decisions quickly. In addition, I’d also say I’ve learnt to balance my workload which helps with a good work/life balance.”

Tiegan: “Whereas Holly and Kalem have been working with the company for a number of years I still believe there is a lot for me to learn. Though I have already learnt how to fit in as part of a team and harmonise with colleagues, at all levels, to achieve desired outcomes.

“One thing I’m developing, which I know will be a skill for life, is my ability to connect with customers which will only improve as I spend more time understanding costs, materials and how to problem solve to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome for the customer and business.”

Kalem, Holly and Tiegan have the following advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship:

– It provides a foundation for you to earn whilst you learn, and you don’t often need any prior experience
– For future employment, you already have on the job experience – not just the theory and it can develop into a career
– If you’re enthusiastic and show a willingness to learn it will benefit you in the future
– Apprenticeships offer a diverse and broad learning experience

External URL: https://www.expandedmetalcompany.com