Listers investment in youth pays off
Posted on 19/08/2013
For young people nowadays, finding employment is a daunting and unenviable task. As we all know, jobs are a rare commodity and the playing field is filled with many fighting for the same position.
Thankfully there are alternative routes to gaining employment and one that Lister Trade Frames of Stoke on Trent support is Apprenticeship schemes.
Listers have been long time advocates of employing apprentices and have over the last 10 years taken on 35 of them. Seeing apprentices as a commodity to be nurtured rather than exploited has seen a staggering 75% of them now in full time employment at Listers.
And there’s even more reason for Listers to shout about their exploits as one of their apprentices has been nominated for the prestigious Apprentice of the Year award.
John Edmonds joined Listers as an apprentice having signed up with PM Training’s Apprenticeship programme. PM Training and Listers have had a long standing relationship that has proved extremely fruitful for both parties and John was the latest candidate to have been placed at Listers by PM.
“John joined us fresh out of school and was looking to develop his skills and learn a trade,” said HR Director Derrith Turner. “We provided a placement within our Commercial Installation department and John was put to work straight away.”
Initially John started off doing manual labour on site fetching and carrying, cleaning up and learning the ropes from his experienced colleagues in Listers Project Team. As time progressed and John became more proficient, Listers expanded his role to include prepping frames, sealing up and eventually learning how to install a window. In a few short months, John had gone from a builders mate to an integral part of the team.
But learning a trade is only part of John’s story. Keen to advance his academic record, John embarked on an educational programme that saw him achieve his level 2 NVQ in Fenestration as well as working at heights, asbestos awareness and becoming a fully qualified First Aider to name but a few. And all in a matter of just 12 months!
It was a no brainer then that Listers turned his role into a permanent member of the team and John is now looking forward to the next stage of his career development.
John said, “Listers and PM Training have supported me from the moment I walked through their doors.” I was still trying to work out what to do with my life and thanks to PM and Listers, I have a focused direction and a trade that I am proud to have on my CV. They are also helping me on my next venture which is to attain my level 3 NVQ.”
“John has become a vital cog in the Listers machine,” remarked Derrith “and we’re more than proud to have played a part in his development. For John to be nominated for Apprentice of the Year is a fantastic achievement and we’re hoping he goes all the way and scoops the award.”
It’s organisations like Listers and PM Training who are able to change the way young people can get into full time employment. Many businesses could benefit from investigating the various schemes on offer and at the same time, like Listers have done, change a young person’s life forever.
