Accounting Apprenticeships in Launceston

Buttons Accounting Limited provides accounting, book-keeping and a wide range of other services to businesses and self-employed sole traders and partnerships based in Launceston they employ 14 members of staff. Their mission statement is ‘to always provide a friendly, efficient and informative service’ developed with input from each member of staff meaning this is at the heart of everyone’s work.

What were the businesses issues/challenges to undertake training?

Emma Gilbert started Button’s in 2004 from home where she began building a client base. In 2006 Emma had her own premises and started taking apprentices to keep up with the demand of work and to expand the business, since then Button’s is committed to taking on at least one apprentice per year.

The training undertook:

Employing apprentices are the best way to bring employees into the business. They bring fresh minds that absorb and learn so much in the first years of working. When they join the company they are treated as equals in the workplace and are expected to value and uphold Button’s standards. Button’s apprentices are all at different stages of their career journeys, undertaking the different levels of AAT.

What impacts and benefits has the training had on the company?

Apprentices have helped the company to succeed, with their enthusiasm to become part of a team, to fulfil a role and develop their own skills and responsibilities. On completing a successful apprenticeship, they feel confident enough to take on responsibility and mentor others. One of their apprentices, Paulina, has grown in confidence during her apprenticeship and has taken it upon herself to organise our payroll into a separate service rather than an add-on service. The training has helped to build a confident team who work together to help to improve their own and each other’s skills, which in turn builds confidence within the company. Since April 2016 Buttons have taken on an additional 40 clients; which Emma believes is in itself, a testimony to their success within the industry.

“I find taking on apprentices is the best way to bring employees into the business. They bring fresh minds that absorb and learn so much in the first years of working.” 

Emma Gilbert, Buttons Accounting Limited

We have over 100 apprenticeships available.

Pendennis Apprenticeship Scheme

Pendennis is a world-class and award winning Custom Build and Refit superyacht yard in Falmouth, UK, specialising in luxury sail and motor yachts 30-100m. Pendennis have been operating a successful apprenticeship scheme for the last 18 years.

What were the businesses issues/challenges to undertake training or take on apprentices?

The Pendennis Apprenticeship Scheme, which is a nationally recognised and awarding winning scheme, has trained over 200 young men and women in the key industry trades over the past 18 years.  The vision behind the scheme came from the Directors, and it was that the shipyard became more self-reliant on the skills needed with home grown talent to deliver the quality product that Pendennis has become synonymous for.  Another big driving factor behind the scheme, which the yard worked tirelessly to promote, was affording opportunities to young local people.  Apprentices at Pendennis get a fantastic career pathway set out in front of them with the chance to grow and develop with the business.  Progression is a key part of the business strategy at Pendennis, with apprentices often moving into senior positions having learned their trade with the company.  By taking on young people from the local community Pendennis has clearly identified a way for their apprentices to contribute to the local economy as well as the business. Another key driver behind the implementation of such a comprehensive apprenticeship scheme has been continued improvement for the business. 

The training undertaken:

The high quality nature of the business requires highly skilled people with a wider appreciation of the service to the customer and their requirements. The Pendennis Apprenticeship Scheme started in 1998 with The Cornwall College Group in its first basic format and has evolved into a specialised bespoke programme as a continued partnership ever since. In August 2016 Pendennis reached a fantastic landmark in employing their 200th apprentice since the apprenticeship scheme began back in 1998, which is an incredible achievement that really underlines the commitment to training and providing opportunities for young people that Pendennis embodies.

What impacts and benefits has the training had on the company?

Over the past 18 years that Pendennis has been operating their apprenticeship scheme, over 95% of apprentices have been offered full-time employment at Pendennis upon graduation.  17.5% of the management team are ex-apprentices responsible for key areas with the shipyard. The amount of skills that have to be out-sourced has been reduced from 75% in 2005 to almost 10% currently and that has only been achievable due to the commitment to employing apprentices from the local community. Now 35% of the workforce is aged less than 30 years old compared to 29% back in 1998 which will help sustain the business for the future.

We have over 100 apprenticeships available.

Engineering Apprenticeship with The Wrigley Company

Based in Plymouth, Devon since 1971, Wrigley produces well known confectionary brands including EXTRA® and AIRWAVES® sugarfree gums, and SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies.

Established in 1891, Wrigley is a recognised leader in confections. Headquartered in Chicago and with operations in more than 40 countries, Wrigley distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries across the globe.  The company employs around 17,000 associates globally and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.

What were the businesses issues/challenges to undertake training?

With an increasing number of long serving associates beginning to explore retirement at their Estover site, Wrigley recognised the need to ensure the knowledge transfer of crucial functional and technical skills and as such chose to partner with The Cornwall College Group to develop a new four year Engineering Apprenticeship Programme. Eight new apprentices were hired in 2015 with a further seven starting in 2016 and numbers will continue to be reviewed annually.

The training undertook:

The Apprenticeship programme is now in its second year with 19 apprentices. Wrigley support their apprentices through an induction week, leadership and team building days, regular performance reviews and continued coaching and mentoring. In 2016 four Wrigley apprentices took part in the Brathay Challenge, a national competition raising the awareness of apprenticeships. They completed community projects and presented at schools and an employer event, and as finalists of the competition they were invited to the House of Commons.

What impacts and benefits has the training had on the company?

Taking on new apprentices has had a positive impact on Wrigley’s existing staff boosting their confidence in knowing that they are passing on their knowledge to potential leaders of the future. Wrigley’s Apprenticeship programme is key to their succession planning, ensuring that the business has the right skills it needs now and for the future.

“We believe in playing to the strengths of our apprentices to nurture them to become future leaders”. Chris Shaw, The Wrigley Company Limited

We have over 100 apprenticeships available.

Apprenticeships at The Eden Project

The Eden Project

The Eden Project is an Educational Charity based in a disused China Clay pit near St Austell. Since opening they have welcomed over 18 million visitors to their site, relying on a team of over 450 employees and 150 volunteers. 

What were the businesses issues/challenges to undertake training?

Eden made the decision to invest in apprenticeships because they believe it’s their duty to support young people in Cornwall and give them opportunities to develop into their chosen careers. As an educational charity, developing apprentices allows them to meet their charitable aims, whilst also supporting the local economy through developing talent. It also makes business sense for Eden to be investing in succession planning through apprenticeships, by developing people into areas they struggle to recruit. Such as Chef and Horticulture, Eden often find it difficult to recruit people with the requisite level of knowledge, skills and experience to fill vacancies and as such made the decision that they would start to ‘grow their own’.

The training undertook:

The Eden Project currently employs 30 apprentices in 10 different teams; Horticulture, Chefs, Hospitality, Retail, Narrators, Graphics, Finance, Facilities, Events and Marketing. All of their apprentices are on two year contracts, with an intake of 15 apprentices per year.

Eden’s mission is to develop enterprising and employable young people who are motivated to leave the world better than they found it. To do this they have created add-ons beyond their main learning frameworks such as a Sustainable Enterprise programme, a ‘Plough-to-Plate’ project, individual skills workshops and a mentoring scheme. Eden have partnered with many local employers to give their apprentices additional support and opportunity’s including trips to River Cottage, Newlyn Fish market, Nathan Outlaw’s restaurant and workshops in Coppicing and Bee-keeping. All of these things take significant organisational commitment to deliver, but they feel that they are vital in developing apprentices who will go on to achieve extraordinary things.

What impacts and benefits has the training had on the company?

Apprenticeships have brought Eden many benefits and have become highly valued across the business. A significant sign of this is that over the last two intakes teams who previously didn't want to recruit apprentices have seen the impact they have had on the rest of the business and have requested to recruit their own. One of the most notable benefits of apprenticeships to Eden, has been the positive impact on succession planning. They currently employ six skilled Horticulturists from their previous horticultural apprenticeship programme and already employ five of the apprentices who have just graduated from their expanded programme. This is a really important benefit for Eden as they have struggled in the past to recruit people with the right knowledge and skills into the teams these apprentices work in.

"Apprenticeships are a hugely important part of what we do. We are an educational charity and take very seriously our role in bringing along the next generation of young people. Eden apprentices are the leaders of tomorrow and there are no limits to what they can achieve." Gordon Seabright, Managing Director of The Eden Project

We have over 100 apprenticeships available.