This week is National Apprenticeship Week, at Parvalux one of our core values is Curiosity; a value that actively encourages our people learn and develop. We have been embracing Apprenticeships as a path of learning for many years, believing that learning while earning is an excellent way to gain a qualification and has helped people learn skills for life.
Our apprentices have studied in areas such as Engineering, Manufacturing, and IT at Level 3, as well as Level 4 in areas including Mechanical Design, and Marketing. Joining us for an apprentice position or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of their current role, all of our apprentices enrich the workplace and contribute to make Parvalux a center of excellence both within the industry and the local area.
In recent years we have seen Carl Fudge come through the apprenticeship scheme starting as a Manufacturing Apprentice and progressed up to Section Leader before moving into his current role now as a Production Engineer. When asked how he felt about apprenticeships Carl responded with “Apprenticeships are a great way to further your education whilst simultaneously working. It gives students the best of both worlds by learning about engineering then applying them into their work. It’s a great balance between studying and working.”
Jamie Manns, Team Leader
Another member of the Parvalux workforce who has been through the apprenticeship scheme is Jamie Manns. Jamie started on a 2-year apprenticeship straight from school, during his apprenticeship Jamie was able to explore each department and learn the fundamentals within each of them. By the end of his course, he started as a full-time Paint Sprayer but since then has progressed in a variety of roles which has led him to become a Team Leader.
Parvalux has always driven people to learn throughout their careers and to keep their knowledge up to date while working with us. We undertake regular skills reviews, and we are always open to staff coming to us if they feel they need extra training and support.
Harry Thompson, Digital Marketing Executive
An example of a staff member who is continuing their development is Harry Thompson who previously completed an apprenticeship earlier in his career is now moving onto a higher-level apprenticeship that will enhance his knowledge within his job role.
Harry joined us in 2023 in the marketing department where he feels a higher-level course could really benefit him in his current role and could also future-proof himself for progression in the company later down the line.
Harry commented, “Apprenticeships have always been the right path to go down as you gain real-world experience and get to know what it is actually like to work within the industry”.
CJ Atkins started an apprenticeship in 2023, studying as a Digital Support Technician Apprentice, he is excited about the apprenticeship and said that the dynamic is really good. Once qualified CJ said he doesn’t see why he wouldn’t continue to develop his skills and take on new challenges.
Natalija Mickevica is another of our team who is currently undertaking an apprenticeship, studying Level 3 HR Support. As well as studying an apprenticeship herself, Natalija also works closely co-ordinating apprenticeships at Parvalux. When asked how she felt about Apprenticeships she replied “Apprenticeships are an excellent way to gain practical skills and hands-on experience in a role. They provide a combination of on-the-job training and classroom learning, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn. It helps bridge the gap between education and employment. Apprenticeships contribute to workforce development, addressing the need for skilled workers in different sectors.”
Natalija then added “For me personally the main advantage of an apprenticeship is that I work under the guidance of an experienced HR professional while also participating in formal training sessions and classes to enhance my theoretical knowledge. My goal as an apprentice is to gain practical skills and knowledge needed for a role, while applying it in real-world scenarios, making the transition from learning to working more seamless.”
Parvalux is a firm believer in apprenticeships and will continue to encourage more people to broaden their horizons. Even if staff eventually decide to move on from the company, we feel proud to have given them skills for life. If you are interested in a career at Parvalux please keep an eye on our careers page to see when opportunities are available.
Natalija Mickevica is another of our team who is currently undertaking an apprenticeship, studying Level 3 HR Support. As well as studying an apprenticeship herself, Natalija also works closely co-ordinating apprenticeships at Parvalux. When asked how she felt about Apprenticeships she replied “Apprenticeships are an excellent way to gain practical skills and hands-on experience in a role. They provide a combination of on-the-job training and classroom learning, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn. It helps bridge the gap between education and employment. Apprenticeships contribute to workforce development, addressing the need for skilled workers in different sectors.”