Conservatory Outlet, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of home improvement products, is celebrating the continued success of its apprenticeship programme.
After investing a six-figure sum into developing the skills of young professionals in West Yorkshire last year, the firm has seen the number of apprenticeships and those undertaking official training within the company grow by 25%.
The firm has also recently created two brand-new positions for two young graduates, Sam Allen (Finance Assistant) and Ben Bradbury (Order Processor) who have recently passed their AAT Level 2 and Business Admin Level 3 courses respectively.
Karen Starkey, Head of HR at Conservatory Outlet, commented: “As one of Wakefield’s largest employers, we believe it is critical to offer new opportunities and development pathways for our staff and the local community.
“As we continue to grow and evolve as a business, we look to the future. Apprentices are the best way of doing this and we actively promote our apprenticeship programme to existing staff, school leavers and new starters alike.”
The Wakefield-based firm, which employs nearly 200 staff at its Thornes Lane Wharf factory, has won plaudits for its approach to vocational learning and professional development. The company’s approach isn’t solely focussed on young people and school leavers as they also provide ongoing training for staff keen to progress and learn new skills.
Such examples include Maintenance Engineer Joe Davies, who has completed several courses with the full backing of Conservatory Outlet and is now studying towards a degree-level qualification, and Marketing Coordinator Missy Mortimer, who has recently started a specialised marketing course to help further support the firm’s wider marketing strategy.
Additionally, over 15 team leaders and senior leaders across transport, manufacturing, operations and customer service departments have enrolled on strategic vocational management courses in the past year.
And more are expected to follow.
Karen adds: “As part of our plan to achieve Investors in People Silver status and cement Conservatory Outlet as an employer of choice, we’re investing in our people and futureproofing their skills. A company is only as good as its people and we want to make sure that our team remains the best in the sector.”
Conservatory Outlet is one of Yorkshire’s fastest-growing manufacturers, supplying an exclusive range of windows, doors and living space products – all manufactured at its headquarters in Wakefield.
The firm supports its Premium Retail Network, a collection of nearly 30 independent home improvement businesses in the UK, and continues to grow year-on-year.
