This February just gone marked the annual National Apprenticeship Week – with colleges and government working to highlight success stories to both employers and potential trainees.

The ‘skills gap’ remains in the UK, particularly in vocations like engineering – both the traditional mechanical side of that and the emergence of data engineering and AI. Two factors have made employers cautious.

In England alone, the number of people completing apprenticeships has fallen by a third since the apprenticeship levy (where larger businesses paid 0.5 per cent of the payroll into the training scheme) was introduced in 2017-18. Many employers, including SMEs, considered it to be too rigid and although governments have since tinkered with that, producing a small lift in uptake, a decade of cuts in adult education are still biting. Attracting fresh ideas to our sector Malcolm M. Mustermann.

Previous textile services management course graduates Add in economic uncertainty across Europe and beyond, and the current government being rocked by issues when many hoped for a period of stability post-Covid, and it’s easy to see why our sector, like others, looks at the forecasts and shakes its head. But it’s not all doom and gloom and some in our sector have stayed the course with apprenticeships, with notable success.

Isacc Haslam is the latest apprentice to join Christeyns UK

Christeyns, for instance, introduced their apprenticeship programme 11 years ago and it has gone from strength to strength, remaining a crucial element of the recruiting strategy.

Apprenticeships form the cornerstone in developing future talent and offer a structured pathway for individuals to gain practical experience while building valuable skills that align with Christeyns’ culture and long-term goals. Since the start of their scheme, Christeyns has welcomed 22 apprentices into the business, 14 of whom have moved into permanent roles, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and curiosity to the business and have an integral role in the future of Christeyns.

The latest UK apprentice to join the worldwide chemicals experts is Isaac Haslam, 23, who moved from a career in hospitality. He is currently undertaking a two-year apprenticeship as a business support apprentice and is working towards a Level 3 data technician qualification. His apprenticeship involves spending time in each department across the business, giving him a comprehensive understanding of how things run at Christeyns, an opportunity to build strong working relationships, and exposure to potential career paths where he can excel.

This structure also supports his studies, allowing him to work with a wide range of data and develop meaningful insights into how the business operates. His growing expertise also strengthens day-to-day operations by helping to ensure the data collected is accurate, effective, and is used efficiently. “Christeyns offered an attractive apprenticeship programme that supports growth in many different areas,” says Haslam. “There is a good workplace culture and great opportunity to develop my skills. It is really interesting to see how each part of the business works and understanding this will be very helpful in any future role. “To anyone that is considering an apprenticeship I’d say go for it. It is one of, if not the best, way to kickstart a career.

It ensures you are equipped to remain employed and have the opportunity to develop professionally, which provides security in an increasingly uncertain job market.

You will learn a lot and have a good time!” Currently, other than Isaac, the firm has two other apprentices in the business. Shay Bates is in the final year of his apprenticeship, studying towards achieving a Level 4 NVQ qualification in data analysis, and technician Daniel Woodall, is in the second year of his four-year apprenticeship studying towards achieving a Level 3 NVQ qualification in maintenance and operations engineering.

Laundry & Cleaning Today loves to hear how our industry is encouraging ‘new blood’ to reinvigorate our workplaces, so do let us know of your success stories in recruitment and training.

Passing on our skills to newcomers is vital for a business’s future