Business Apprentice Builds Skills at Aylesbury Box Company

Business Apprentice Builds Skills at Aylesbury Box Company

In 2020, the demand for cardboard packaging was booming and Aylesbury Box Company was in the position to take on an apprentice. Josh joined the team and has been working with us, whilst completing his studies, since November 2020.

Why Take on an Apprentice

Aylesbury Box Company likes to support local initiatives and that includes training and developing local talent. We were interested in taking on an apprentice, however, the timing had to be right.

As the pandemic resulted in a surge in home deliveries and the launch of multiple start-up companies, it proved a busy period for the packaging industry. Our custom cardboard boxes were in demand. At this busy time, we knew that we could provide an apprentice with a good variety of work and plenty of contact with customers and colleagues. As experience and skills grow, it is also valuable to have an additional member of the team.

Finding an Apprentice

We wanted to find someone willing to learn and interested in the packaging industry.

Josh was on the shortlist. He had completed A’levels but wasn’t keen on going to university. He had seen his sister gain skills and success through an apprenticeship and felt this was the right route for him. It provided an opportunity to build his knowledge and experience of how businesses operate and work towards a recognised qualification.

When he found the business management apprenticeship at Aylesbury Box Company, it seemed like the perfect fit and a chance to leave the uninspiring job he was in. When we interviewed Josh, we agreed that he was the perfect fit for our team.

“On my first day, I was excited and interested. It was something completely new so I was intrigued to see how it would all go. I was keen to gain an understanding of day-to-day business management and the different layers and stages of a business.” – Josh

Helpful to Customers & Colleagues

Josh arrived with no previous experience in the packaging industry, or a business-orientated role. However, he was quick to pick up an understanding of the systems and processes we use at Aylesbury Box Company. Josh got on well with colleagues too, helping him to fit in well with the team and become a great help to us all.

As his knowledge of our products and services grew, he gained confidence in responding to customer emails and calls. He knew that others in the team would help out if he had questions, yet he was increasingly able to provide informative, detailed and helpful information to customers.

“I came into this completely new, no knowledge at all, and so now, to have a good understanding of the business and sector is brilliant. The job can be quite mathematical and I found that calculating scores was one of the greatest challenges of the role, but it is a skill that I’ve developed and now feel more confident in my abilities.” – Josh

Managing Work & Study in an Apprenticeship

As employers, we provided on-the-job training and development for Josh. In addition, he had to complete studies and a portfolio to evidence competencies. We agreed to set aside work on Thursday afternoons so he could dedicate time to his studies. He coped with this well and there was some additional flexibility to crack on with college work during quieter days.

We asked Josh if he had any advice for someone considering an apprenticeship.

“Give it a go. I was never interested in going to uni, although I did want to continue studying, as I found school enjoyable. So, this was the ideal pathway to marry the two – working and earning money whilst also still studying.”

Apprentice Starts a Successful Career in Business

Josh has now completed his business apprenticeship, adding to his qualifications and experience. Changes to our business mean that we are unfortunately unable to offer him employment. This means he will be leaving Aylesbury Box Company at the end of September, but this isn’t the end of the story.

“We are delighted that Josh has been offered a Customer Service role with a Bedford transport company. The job description is a perfect fit for Josh’s skills and we are pleased to have helped him gain relevant experience for this role. We wish him every success.”

– Luke Jamieson, Director, Aylesbury Box Company

Taking on an Apprentice

At this time of year, many students are planning their next career step. If your company is considering taking on an apprentice, we can confirm that our experience of the process was largely positive. There is a commitment of time from the employer and some need for flexibility, yet we benefitted from having Josh join our team.

Further information on apprenticeships is offered here: https://www.gov.uk/employing-an-apprentice