ApprenticeshipsNI Programme
Over the past 9 months we are delighted to have been participating in the government backed ApprenticeshipsNI Programme which is facilitated by Seetec Outsource.
Seetec are working with local employers including ourselves to recruit the best talent for their organisations. Coupled with their offer of free recruitment, the ApprenticeshipsNI programme offers funded training for apprentices between the ages of 16 and 24. Employers then have the opportunity to take on a new apprentice or train an existing employee who is in a new role and wanting to upskill.
Apprenticeship pathways are available through Seetec at Level 2 and Level 3 and cover a wide variety of areas including our sector Logistics Operations.
As well as this, there’s a £500 incentive for employers once the participant completes training, meaning it is one of the most cost-effective ways for a business to add value to its workforce.
The timeframe for recruitment is usually between four and ten weeks and training can take 1 to 2 years depending on the programme.
Our Apprentice is Nathan Nesbitt (22) from Lisburn who is currently finishing his apprenticeship in International Trade and Logistics Operations. The idea of university didn’t appeal to Nathan and following three years working in retail, he felt pursuing an apprenticeship was the way forward.
He says “My apprenticeship turned out to be quite challenging but that makes it more enjoyable. The ApprenticeshipsNI programme has been very beneficial in that it is hands-on learning from peers, which I feel is irreplaceable. With this apprenticeship I will receive a qualification and experience directly relative to what my employer needs. As well as this, I have been earning while learning which is a huge bonus!
“I definitely feel more confident in myself and my work since starting with Johnson Stevens and Transocean, and I highly recommend the ApprenticeshipsNI programme to anyone thinking of doing an apprenticeship.”
Our Company Managing Director Julian Hollywood says: “The ApprenticeshipsNI programme has helped us immeasurably. We found it difficult to attract young talent to our business and saw little fresh talent coming into the shipping and freight forwarding industry. Seetec Outsource has given us the platform to get young people on board and this ensures the future of our business”.
“Mentored by experienced staff, Nathan has excelled in his position. We have increased productivity while Nathan has learned the tricks of the trade, so it’s a win-win. The apprenticeship is an investment for the future, and we are currently looking into introducing more young talent to our company through the ApprenticeshipsNI programme.”
“We are proud to be participating in this programme and we encourage other companies to consider it when recruiting new young staff into their organisations”.
We invite you to please view the below video;