Investing in Apprentices to grow the decorating industry

Many industries look at taking on apprentices to help support their current workforce and to develop skills within their trade. For example, Intertech Contracts regularly take on apprentices and have seen great results from the work of apprentices within our business.  

Over the past few months, Intertech Contracts have taken on several apprentices who have undertaken Joinery and Decorating apprenticeships across the business.

"In order to expand our workforce, we decided to invest in youth by taking on several apprentices who would work across the different sectors of the business. Working in close partnership with the training providers, we are pleased with the intake we have had to date. With a growing order book, we will be continuing to recruit"Wayne Tompkins, Intertech Commercial Manager.

Amongst our latest recruits include Reece Andrews, who joined us in September 2022, Lewis Rojahn, who started in October 2022 and Shae Cammish, who joined most recently in February 2023.

In the first six months of his Joinery apprenticeship, Reece is working towards his Level 2 in Joinery & Carpentry. In that time, he has shown great enthusiasm in gaining experience with 2nd fix joinery and the installation of doors in both factory and site environments. 

"Reece has a great attitude towards his work and is eager to learn new skills; he is a credit to the company" – Andrew Whitfield, Intertech site supervisor.

Lewis joined the team at Intertech as a decorating apprentice in October 2022. Having already completed his Level 1 in Painting & Decorating, he wanted to progress onto his Level 2. He has shown a great attitude and a high level of commitment towards learning and developing his practical skills.

Lewis said, "I am keen to progress onto the level 3 apprenticeship to become a qualified painter and decorator."

The latest addition to the Intertech team is Shae, who started in February 2023. Having initially completed his Level 1 in Joinery & Carpentry, Shae was keen to broaden his training and learn new skills, so he decided to progress into painting and decorating. 

"Shae has settled into his new role very well and is working alongside our experienced onsite operatives", said Wayne Tompkins, Intertech Commercial Manager.

The benefits of Apprentices learning painting and decorating

During an apprenticeship, individuals gain a wealth of new practical skills whilst learning how to use a wide range of tools relevant to their specialism and more. Apprenticeships provide so many benefits to both the trainee and the business. 

Apprenticeships help develop skills and talent, either through supporting your hiring process or by growing the skills of existing employees.

According to Government figures, UK employers agreed that apprenticeships helped produce a motivated and skilled workforce:

• 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped develop relevant skills.
• 78% of employers said apprenticeships help improve productivity.
• 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped improve their service quality.

Intertech Contracts have employed apprentices for some time to help develop the skills of local young people. Apprenticeships help develop skills within the commercial decorating industry. Building skills in painting, decorating, and joinery helps build the future of our trade. 

To ensure that apprentices get the most out of their time with us, it is essential that time is available for them to undertake formal studies to support what they learn on the job. 

Intertech Contracts future-proofing the commercial decorating industry

At Intertech Contracts, we believe that investing in apprenticeships benefits our business and helps address the skills gap within the commercial decorating industry. By offering apprenticeships, we allow young people to gain valuable work experience and develop the skills they need to build a successful career.

Apprenticeships can be an excellent way for businesses to grow their talent pool, as they enable employers to train their workforce in a way that is tailored to their specific needs. 

Apprenticeships also help create a more diverse workforce, as they provide opportunities for people from various backgrounds to enter the industry and learn new skills.

Another benefit of apprenticeships is that they can help to improve employee retention rates. By offering training and development opportunities, businesses can show their staff that they are invested in their future and are committed to helping them grow and progress in their careers.

In addition to the benefits that we see at Intertech Contracts, apprenticeships also provide a range of benefits for apprentices themselves. Apprenticeships offer a way for young people to gain work experience and develop practical skills while also earning a wage and working towards a qualification. This can be particularly beneficial for those who are not interested in pursuing a traditional academic path.

Apprenticeships can also improve the employability of young people by providing them with valuable work experience and a recognised qualification. This can be particularly important for those who may have struggled to find work or who have faced other barriers to employment.

Overall, we believe that apprenticeships are an essential part of our industry's future. By investing in apprenticeships, we are not only helping to address the skills gap within the industry but also creating opportunities for young people to build successful careers. At Intertech Contracts, we are committed to supporting the next generation of talent and look forward to continuing to offer apprenticeships in the future.

Please join us in congratulating Reece, Lewis and Shae for their hard work on their Painting & Decorating and Joinery apprenticeships. Keep up the excellent work, and we look forward to seeing your skills progress. 

Get in touch with Intertech Contracts to find out more about our services.