Back in 1982, I was leaving school and I had a passion for engineering but the engineering industry was suffering doom and gloom and going through a major recession with cutbacks, as our manufacturing tottered off abroad.

Luckily, my Mum knew someone who knew someone who was good enough to give me an apprenticeship. A proper apprenticeship where you learnt the skills to last a lifetime. That apprenticeship was tool making. Now here I am thirty years later, hearing on the news how across Europe it is very difficult for young people to find opportunities. So I became determined of finding a way to offer high end apprenticeships for young people, not only to take them on, but to employ them fully after their apprenticeship with the view that they would be paid fairly with a good working environment.

This year, ISL Online Ltd – the ISL Online UK office – was able to put that plan into action and we hired our first apprentice through a traineeship’s programme specialising in ICT and digital media. Anyone who says that young people do not have what it takes to be in the workplace has no experience of the young apprentices that I am fortunate to have come across.

They have been reliable, affordable, motivated and extremely hard working. The apprentice can grow with the organisation and I have been impressed how they can slot in and out of many of the roles as they learn daily business.

As a manager of a business, I truly believe this is one of the best things that I have implemented into the business. A proper apprenticeship leading to a strong, technical career, giving them the opportunity to grow and flourish with the business. I hope in the years to come that we can take on more apprenticeships and take full advantage of the young talent and determination of some of our youngsters.

Warren
Managing director, ISL Online Ltd