Apprentices from Samworth Brothers businesses in Leicestershire came together this week for a National Apprenticeship Week celebration.
Samworth Brothers currently has more than 110 individuals involved in group-wide apprenticeship programmes, as well as many other apprentices in business specific apprentice programmes across the firm’s sites in Leicestershire.
The event took place at Bradgate Bakery in Beaumont Leys and was attended by the City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby. More than 20 Samworth Brothers apprentices with their sponsoring managers participated along with representatives from Samworth Brothers apprentice partners such as Leicester College.
Samworth Brothers Group Executive Director, Paul Davey, responsible for People, said, “As a business we are strongly committed to supporting people in developing their careers through apprenticeships. We also believe apprenticeships can offer great opportunities for many different groups of people, not just for school leavers, but for life-long learning.
'We’re very proud of the achievements of our apprentices and we look forward to working with them as they further develop their careers. We also look forward to welcoming and encouraging many more apprentice candidates in the future.”
Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby said, “I am extremely impressed by the very wide-ranging apprenticeships programmes being offered by Samworth Brothers. They are not only offering life-changing opportunities to people of different ages and backgrounds, but also boosting Leicester’s economy by improving and extending the skills of the city’s workforce. It was a pleasure to meet the apprentices here today and I wish them well for the future.”
Among the apprentice guests was Matt Sterland, who has joined the company as an engineering apprentice at Melton Foods in Melton Mowbray. He said, “I enjoy the variation of the job most. In the engineering department every week is different. One day you could be welding, another programming. I am now at Level 2 which gives me a solid foundation of practical and theoretical knowledge to use.”
Another apprentice guest was Bally Kaur, a Hygiene Senior Team Leader at Bradgate Bakery. Bally achieved an Advanced Apprenticeship in Food Manufacturing Excellence in 2016 and has recently finished an Advanced Apprenticeship in Food Industry Skills & Technical Management.
Kaur said, “Without the skills and qualifications I have gained from my apprenticeships, I wouldn’t be equipped to do the job I have today. One of the highlights of my recent apprenticeship was the classroom sessions, the teacher made the learning really enjoyable.”