What it’s like as an apprentice with the Instant Home team
Owen and Callum are two valued members of our team, Owen has successfully completed his apprenticeship and Callum is a few weeks and one exam off completing his.
With schools coming to a close for the summer and young people considering their career options, it seemed like the perfect time to share the experience of our 2 apprentices’ journeys and what it has meant for them and for us as a local business.
As an independent business it’s important to us to help support young people giving real life work experience, whilst still getting formally educated. This gives our apprentices the tools to take the next steps in the career of their choice, but with real life work experience under their belts. Of course the extra pair of hands is essential for the success of our business too!
Here’s a summary of Owens and Callum’s journeys so far:
Owen joined us in 2018 and has been an integral part of our team for nearly 4 years. Owen swiftly completed his apprenticeship, he balanced his coursework alongside his day to day activities in the warehouse. He’s helped to keep our rental furniture in top condition and kept the deliveries that come in and out well organised and efficient. This includes working with our computer system to manage the stock, making items easy to locate for picking and packing. Since completing his apprenticeship Owen has taken on any task he has been given, he is now employed full time as a warehouse operative and removals porter, his role is varied and sees him complete tasks from delivery driver to IT guru when it comes to our stock system!
Callum, who has been with us for just over a year, took the apprenticeship as a taster to see what working life was like. His journey as an apprentice is coming to a close with just a little more coursework and one exam left to complete. During his time with us he has enjoyed many aspects of the job including the travel which can take him as far North as Scotland and as far South as Cornwall! We’ve been so impressed with Callum’s input that we have been delighted to offer him a full time position with us.
Another fun project, they’ve both been involved in, was helping to produce some podcasts!
You can hear the outcome of this by clicking the link to listen to their thoughts on the job and the apprenticeship scheme over a cuppa:
https://shows.acast.com/the-instant-home/episodes/apprenticeships
Whilst gaining this valuable ‘on the job’ experience, our apprentices also get support from the local college , Cambridge Regional College, with monthly visits from their course tutor who undertakes assessments of them whilst on the job and sets coursework for them here on site.
Over the period of their apprenticeship, they are required to complete the following:
- 1 day a week doing course work and studies – business related studies
- Final exam
Combined with the following ‘on the job’ experience you can see why apprenticeship schemes are such a great opportunity.
- Warehouse Management
- Quality control
- Stock Management
- Picking & Packing
- Supply chain
- Forklift truck license – 3 day course
- Delivery and collection
- Cleaning and packing furniture
- Customer service
In addition to the above skills, we also help our apprentices to learn good customer services values by ensuring that any furniture that we deliver is unpacked and placed, which can mean making beds, unpacking crockery and even tuning the TVs. All of which helps develop general day to day life skills and builds confidence. Finally, and by no means least! Whilst gaining all this incredible experience our apprentices get paid too!
The good news is that we’re seeking a new apprentice to start with us in September, which will be working towards a qualification as a Supply Chain Warehousing Operator.
If the above sounds like the right opportunity for you then you can apply by clicking this link:
https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/1000038414
Useful Information about Apprenticeships:
If you’re considering an apprenticeship, then here’s a few things that you might like to know:
An apprenticeship is a real job where you learn, gain experience and get paid. You’re an employee with a contract of employment and holiday leave. By the end of an apprenticeship, you’ll have the right skills and knowledge needed for your chosen career, this often leads to a permanent position within the company that the apprenticeship is taken with.
An apprenticeship can take between one and 6 years to complete depending on which one you choose, what level it is and your previous experience.
You can start an apprenticeship program whether you’re starting your career, considering a change or you simply want to upskill. You can even have a previous qualification such as a degree.
As an apprentice you’ll:
- learn and train for a specific job
- get paid and receive holiday leave
- get hands-on experience in a real job
- study for at least 20% of your working hours – usually at a college, university or with a training provider
- complete assessments during and at the end of your apprenticeship
- be on a career path with lots of future potential
If this route to employment sounds like the path for you then you can find out more by visiting https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/find-course