News Release

Poeton helps to meet the apprenticeship challenge

11th August 2004

 

Surface coating specialist Poeton Industries, which has a long history of engineering apprenticeship and craft skills training, has featured in an 'Apprenticeship Challenge' launched by Gloucester's evening paper The Citizen as part of a Government initiative urging companies to take on more young apprentices.

The article promoting the challenge featured employees James Blackford and Wayne Ellis, who are both former Poeton apprentices.

James, 20, is currently working as an engineer in Poeton's Quality Department after spending three years gaining an excellent grounding in engineering skills and a working knowledge of chemistry and health & safety practices. He says the scheme gives young people the chance to earn while they learn, which is also appreciated!

Wayne, now 26, says the apprenticeship was a great starting point for a career at Poeton. After completing his apprenticeship as a skilled plater he successfully applied for an internal promotion to production co-ordinator, and now works as a sales and estimating engineer.

Both say that the scheme helps young people to gain respect inside and outside the workplace and shows a real willingness to work.

Poeton human resources manager Tony Clucas agrees, adding that at any one time the company has between six and eight apprentices in training. He says Poeton can also point to a large proportion of jobs at all levels within the company that are filled by former apprentices.

The Citizen's editor Ian Mean says Poeton provides a positive model for businesses in the region and hopes it will encourage others to take up the Apprenticeship Challenge in order to create more highly skilled and effective employees.

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File: Apprenticeship Challenge