This, coupled with an existing workforce that was not exactly in the first flush of youth, convinced Livestock and Dairy Distribution haulier Wm Armstrong to look at the option of “grow your own” talent by encouraging more young people to consider joining the business.

Working closely with its training partners System Group, Wm Armstrong developed an Apprenticeship programme for young people aged 16 plus. The Apprenticeship gives young people a real insight into working for the haulage company with the chance to get experience of office, warehouse and yard work. In addition to this Apprentices will get qualified with a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), in Driving Goods Vehicles or Traffic Office, which essentially provides them with a formal certificate acknowledging their skills and expertise in working practices. The successful partnership with System Group also provides employees with the full range of training needed both for legislative reasons and to support their ongoing skills development. These include Fork Lift Truck training, Carriage of Dangerous Goods (ADR) and access to public funded programmes via System’s Train to Gain contract.

The results speak for themselves:

• The introduction of Apprenticeships has resulted in a 50% increase in staff retention and widened its recruitment pool.
• The business’ reputation for upskilling its workforce and the resulting excellent customer services provided has resulted in new business wins.
• Apprenticeships help staff with their career progression – for example, in its recent group of Apprentices, one young man entered the company looking to train to become a HGV driver, but because he had the opportunity to experience different roles within the business he demonstrated a flair for traffic office. He is now taking part in the Traffic Office NVQ, following which he is looking to develop a role in this area of the business.
  

Steve Whyberd, Training Manager, Wm Armstrong said, “The introduction of Apprenticeships has benefited our organisation in many ways – we have a happy, qualified workforce, retention rates are much higher than before, our public image is very positive one as a business that invests in its people and cares about its clients and, our customers benefit from having a skilled workforce handling their products.”