TotalKare, which works with commercial vehicle workshops and bus and coach operators across the UK, has recruited Joe Snipe as its latest employee meaning that 10% of the firm’s current workforce have joined the business as apprentices.
The 18-year-old has joined as an apprentice factory engineer. From September this year, he will be attending Dudley College while working at the Halesowen site.
Snipe said: “I’m very practical so an apprenticeship offers an ideal opportunity to learn new skills that I can apply straight away in the workshop. Earning money straight away is also important and will allow me to do the things I like doing outside of work. I also like the fact that there is plenty of opportunity to progress through the business.”
The latest appointment is the fifth apprentice TotalKare has taken on since 2013 and comes during National Apprenticeship Week 2018. Four of the young people have subsequently gone on to complete their apprenticeships and hold down full-time positions across the business in positions including field engineer, service engineer and sales executive.
Over £25,000 is spent on staff development every year on a mix of external courses and internal training.A newly introduced mentoring scheme is also helping fast-track potential managers of the future.
Tristan Johnston, project and systems manager, concluded: “Although our business is supplying mobile column lifts, fixed four and two posts lifts and forklifter systems, people continue to be our greatest asset and we are always looking at injecting new talent into the team. Joe is the first apprentice we have taken on this year, but we have plans to potentially recruit another two or three more between now and the end of 2018.”
