Chesterfield financial planners Milestone Financial Planning has strengthened its team further with two new recruits – Joanne Taylor and Jake Bennett.

Joanne joins the team as a Technical Administrator bringing more than 20 years of experience in administration and office management to the role.  She has returned to an administration role and the UK after having lived in Egypt for seven years where she held the role of Assistant Spa Manager for seven years. Keen to be back with her family, Joanne returned to Chesterfield last year where she initially took up the role of receptionist at a local hotel.

Commenting on joining Milestone, Joanne said:-

“I’m delighted to be working with the fantastic team here at Milestone Financial Planning. They’ve made me feel very welcome. The company has great plans for the future – I’m excited to be a part of it all. I feel that I will be able to grow and develop within the company and I can’t wait to get my teeth stuck into something new.”

Joanne is joined by Jake Bennett (22), who has been appointed as a Business Administration Apprentice. The former Outwood Academy student has joined Milestone from Leeds Beckett University where he was studying Accounting and Finance. The prospect of earning while he learns, rather than building thousands of pounds of university debt, attracted Jake to the role.

He commented:-

“When I spoke to the guys at Milestone, the vision of the business just blew me away. This is such a fantastic opportunity for me to learn about the sector, gain qualifications and earn a wage with a great company.

“I hope to become a fully qualified financial adviser with Milestone in the future. I’m excited to really kickstart my apprenticeship and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Apprenticeships in Chesterfield are an excellent way of gaining qualifications whilst getting real life work experience and being paid for it – what better place to become an apprentice or find an apprentice than the UK’s first Apprentice Town.

Redbrik Estate Agents has strengthened their lettings team with a new negotiator and former apprentice in Chesterfield.

Alex Matthews, 21, has joined the company in their lettings office based on Glumangate in Chesterfield.

Alex started his property career when he completed an apprenticeship with Toseland Properties, gaining a range of industry experience. Apprenticeships in Chesterfield are an excellent way of gaining qualifications whilst getting real life work experience and being paid for it – what better place to become an apprentice or find an apprentice than the UK’s first Apprentice Town.

Alex then moved to Hunters, where he worked as a senior negotiator and gained a Level 3 in Residential Sales qualification. Nearly all apprentices feel that they acquire or improve their skills as a direct result of their apprenticeship. 89% of apprentices are satisfied with their apprenticeship; 97% of apprentices said their ability to do the job had improved, and 92% of apprentices said their career prospects had improved.

Alex said:-

“What drew me to Redbrik was their fantastic branding – they’re like the Apple of the estate agency world, modern and innovative.

“I’ve lived in Chesterfield all my life, so I know the area like the back of my hand and I’m looking forward to bringing my local knowledge to the role and developing my skillset with the company.”

Peter Lee, Director of Lettings at Redbrik, added:-

“As the lettings side of the business continues to grow, we are thrilled to bring Alex on board to help both landlords and tenants with all aspects of the renting process.

“He really understands the Redbrik philosophy and brings with him a wealth of industry experience, so I am certain he will play a key role in expanding our lettings portfolio.”

Chesterfield is the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town – demonstrating its commitment to growing the future and careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town in order to attract more employers to invest here.

On the run up to  the 11^th National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2018) on 5-9 March, Chesterfield Champions, The UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is celebrating the success of the scheme, as proof of this year’s theme of ‘Apprenticeships Work’

Chesterfield was named as the UK’s first official ‘Apprentice Town’ back in April 2017 and UKATA has supported the initiative from the start, recruiting several apprentices over the years to work in UKATA’s Markham Vale Headquarters. UKATA’s commitment to apprenticeships has a long history, with former Social Media apprentice Sasha Brailsford who started back in 2015, now promoted to Team Leader, overseeing the next generation of apprentices in the workplace.

“UKATA’s experience of apprenticeships has been overwhelmingly positive,” said UKATA General Manager Craig Evans. “We are proud of our involvement and would encourage other businesses to follow in our footsteps. A skilled workforce is essential and taking on apprentices is a great way to develop that, while providing a fantastic opportunity for young people to develop essential, practical skills on the job.”

In the wake of Sasha’s success, UKATA has three new apprentices; Max Floyde; Saffron Spencer and Leonie Hibberd, who started in October and November as Membership Assistants. All have begun their membership training and are showing tremendous aptitude when learning about the processes involved. As a former Derbyshire Times Business Person of the Year, Craig is keen to see SME’s in the region given the support and funding they need to develop, but also argues ahead of NAW2018 that those businesses that can, should back apprenticeships.

“What excites me is the potential here in Chesterfield for success and apprenticeships can form a big part of that,” added Craig. “Destination Chesterfield and the D2N2 project are still on track and there is still time for this to bring in new business and investment to the region. Our apprentices have excelled over the years and UKATA would not have continued taking on apprentices if the Association was not getting something positive out of it too,” added Craig. “There are some talented young people in Chesterfield who just need businesses willing to give them the opportunity to prove it.”

Renowned tea and coffee experts Ringtons is on the search for five new apprentices, including two in Chesterfield, for its traditional doorstep delivery service following the successful introduction of two recruits to its apprenticeship programme.

The family-business is looking for five enthusiastic, passionate and ambitious recruits to join the 110-year-old company under its new Customer Services Apprenticeship Programme.

The Ringtons Chesterfield office operates 20 vans which provide regular deliveries to over 19,000 customers in the area.

The Customer Services Apprentices will be responsible for helping keep the nation in its favourite tea, coffee and biscuits via the company’s traditional doorstep delivery service which caters to over 240,000 customers from 19 sites throughout the UK.  Duties of the apprenticeship role include supporting existing vans salespeople, making regular calls to local customers, providing excellent customer service, sales and stock management.

Jon Malton, Brand Director for Ringtons said: “Our new apprenticeship programme is the first we have offered in over 110 years of business and we are pleased to be in a position where we have found two successful new trainees and are able to look for even more.  Not only are we attracting enthusiastic, passionate, committed and endearing trainees, but putting our recruits through a Ringtons induction programme which covers all areas of the business gives them a solid background to build their own skills and are essential for their Customer Services Apprenticeships.

Daniel Gray (26) and Connor Keegan (20) are the first recruits to undertake Ringtons’ apprenticeships programme at the company’s biggest sales office in Tyne and Wear.  Speaking of the apprenticeship Connor Keegan said: “After a few years working in different jobs I saw the Ringtons apprenticeship as an opportunity to gain a more secure job with a steady income and to join a well-respected family business.  I really enjoy working outside, managing my own time, talking to the customers and learning about every element of the business, so this role really suits me and I would recommend it to those looking for all-round customer service experience.

Applicants are invited to apply for the Ringtons Customer Services Apprenticeships via the Government’s ‘Find an Apprenticeship’ website: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/-230858

The future of training provision for all existing learners at NLT Training Services, has been secured.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has agreed to continue funding training for existing apprentices until the end of their training programme providing employers are happy to continue using NLT.

This decision paves the way for a take-over of NLT by WEBS Training Limited securing not only apprenticeship training provision but also around 20 jobs across NLT’s Chesterfield and Scunthorpe sites.

The announcement follows an Ofsted inspection late last year which saw NLT graded ‘inadequate’, resulting in the ESFA withdrawing funding and which threatened the longstanding training provider with closure.

Commenting on the announcement, Sarah Temperton Chief Executive of NLT Training Services said: “It is fair to say that we are all very relieved. We have been working hard to secure the future of the organisation and this sends out a very positive message to employers, apprentices and staff.

“Our thanks go to our apprentices, employers, the business community and WEBS for the support they have given NLT during this difficult time.”

The takeover by WEBS, a specialist manufacturing training provider based in Nottingham which is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, has saved 21 jobs and secured the future of much-needed engineering apprentice training provision in the area.

Commenting on the takeover, Sammy Jones, Managing Director of WEBS Training, said: “WEBS and NLT have worked together for a number of years, and we are both committed to delivering a unique experience to both learners and employers and developing and delivering outstanding training for industry by industry. The takeover made absolute sense and I am delighted that the EFSA’s decision means we can now press on with our plans to fully integrate NLT. Learners and employers will both benefit from the increased variety and enhanced training provision that we can now offer.”

Sarah added: “WEBS is already working hard with us to drive the quality of training forward. The additional resources that WEBS brings will enable the business improvement changes instigated earlier this year within NLT to be accelerated. It is an exciting time for everyone involved and an opportunity to deliver a greater variety of specialised training.”

WEBS and NLT have worked together for a number of years, with their respective Chief Executives sitting on each other’s board. They are also both Group Training Association (GTA) members, committed to delivering a unique experience to both learners and employers and developing and delivering outstanding training for industry by industry.

WEBS, which was founded by four of Long Eaton’s major manufacturing companies, has been delivering furniture training since 1968. The takeover of NLT’s Scunthorpe and Chesterfield operations will give WEBS a full East Midlands presence and expand the number of apprenticeships offered across all three sites, further helping meet local training demand.

The takeover by the Ofsted Good rated provider, will see NLT rebranded and all of its 200 Level 2 and 3 apprentices transferred ahead of the new academic year in 2018. Currently WEBS has more than 160 apprentices on roll.

NLT is now calling on local employers to use its services. Sarah added: “Any employers looking for apprentice training or to recruit an apprentice, should get in touch with us as soon as possible. WEBS will shortly begin recruiting engineering and business services apprentices in Chesterfield and Scunthorpe and we look forward to supporting learners and businesses long into the future.”