Member Article

Killingworth manufacturer expands workforce by recruiting four apprentices

Godfrey Syrett has been manufacturing high quality furniture for over 60 years. They are one of the country’s largest furniture manufacturers with two factories based in the North East. Skilled craftsmanship combined with both traditional and modern techniques mean that they can proudly offer their customers a wide range of quality products.

At the beginning of 2014 TNT was approached by Godfrey Syrett with a view to exploring the options of apprenticeships being adopted as an alternative method of recruitment. Godfrey Syrett being a multi-disciplined environment was ideally suited to Manufacturing apprenticeships. Godfrey Syrett needed staff whose skills could be utilised in many areas ranging from fabrication, woodworking, general assembly, upholstering and powder coating.

TNT started recruiting for the first position in February 2014. Such was the quality of candidates who were presented for interview that Godfrey Syrett decided to recruit two Manufacturing apprentices; Michael Egdell and Joseph Gordon. Both apprentices started in March and are due to complete their apprenticeships this year.

The success of this apprenticeship programme led Godfrey Syrett to once again look at the apprenticeship model and TNT to further strengthen their team. Again after a rigorous recruitment process Godfrey Syrett once again recruited an additional two apprentices; Dominic Hattan and Ryan Payne. Both apprentices started in October and November 2014.

Katie Illingworth TNT’s Recruitment Co-ordinator commented “Godfrey Syrett have fully committed to developing their own staff by recruiting apprentices. The training programme that the 4 apprentices are on is giving them the opportunities to showcase their talents in various departments. Already, the two apprentices who started earlier this year; Joseph and Michael have established themselves in a specific area of the business, I am confident that the two new apprentices; Dominic and Ryan will do the same”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tyne North Training Limited .