Apprenticeships play a vital role in attracting young people and keeping the sector buzzing with fresh ideas and ways of doing things. In fact, we hire around 70 apprentices each year across the UK at Jewson, with a good proportion based in my region of Wales.
Another advantage of hiring apprentices is the diversity it brings to our business and to the wider Saint-Gobain group.
Although we have a proud history of long and loyal service from employees, unless you are connected to someone in the building trade, you may not consider the merchant industry for your first job.
Jewson currently employs 81 apprentices across the UK, with roles mainly in the subjects of customer service, sales, warehousing and trade business services. We also run a timber apprenticeship that enables employees to get an expert understanding of one of our most important product lines.
The greater number of apprentices has effectively brought skills into the business as new entrants constantly bring new ideas and ways of using technology. This helps the business to innovate and introduce fresh ways for our customers to trade with us.
Just one of our apprentices is Keiron Ashton from Abercynon, who started with Jewson three years ago after joining straight from school, and has since progressed to a full-time warehouse assistant. You can hear his story below.
Jewson has also pledged to create more than 300 job opportunities for young people as part of a partnership with national charity, Street League. The charity uses the power of football to attract unemployed people aged 16 to 24 onto its award-winning Academy programme, where participants develop employability skills and acquire nationally-recognised qualifications.
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By Carole Allsopp, HR Manager for Jewson in the South West and Wales
