Members of the Direct Air team from across different departments discuss the benefits of apprenticeships, right from the employer to the apprentice’s themselves.
Meet the management
Allan Dolby is the Managing Director at Direct Air. He hired the company’s first apprentice in 2005. Emma Dolby, Marketing Manager, works closely with the office-based apprentices to provide any necessary support.
Reason for taking on apprentices
Allan explains, apprenticeships are an ideal way for Direct Air to take on new employees, as it ensures they receive the appropriate training. It’s proven difficult finding individuals with the necessary experience for this specialised work, being able to provide their own training suits company requirements.
Emma emphasises that apprenticeships offer the company the opportunity to attract young, local talent into the company. Direct Air benefits through the new ideas and points of view entering the business, encouraging their business to continue diversifying and growing.
Benefits for the employer and business
Direct Air’s big benefit as an organisation is that as they grow, the apprentices move into more senior roles in line with their individual progression. Seeing a young person develop through the company is very rewarding.
Apprentices have the opportunity to increase their level of responsibility and gain an overall awareness about the business, having seen how everything works from the bottom to the top.
The business size allows for government funding with apprentices aged 16-18. Despite this, whether they’re 16 or 21, the company always focuses on getting the right person for the job.
Benefits for the apprentice
Reece, an engineering apprentice at Direct Air, has benefitted by gaining top quality industry knowledge and skills. His confidence to get stuck in has improved and he’s loved the ability to work towards a qualification, whilst getting on the job experience.
Another engineering apprentice, Jack explains that achieving electrical and mechanical maintenance qualifications, has helped provide him with skills needed for his role. Each engineer offers different techniques that Jack has picked up from working with them. Expanding his knowledge and experience, the Direct Air team has given Jack confidence to complete more complex tasks he didn’t know he was capable of.
Former business admin apprentice Lauren has become a permanent customer service administrator role at Direct Air. Lauren’s confidence with talking to customers on the phone has grown and the apprenticeship provided her with a great insight of working life, after starting at the company straight from school. Achieving her L2 business administration qualification along the way worked really well.
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