Member Article

Success in sight for County Durham apprentice

An ambitious 17-year-old from Houghton Le Spring, County Durham, is celebrating during National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 March 2017), after securing a coveted place on an in-demand apprenticeship programme with national optician Vision Express.

Katie Popay has taken up a full-time post at the Sunderland Vision Express store on the 13-month employee-embedded scheme, which has received over 5,500 applicants since it began in February 2014.

Chosen from an average 46 applicants for each available post, Katie will be working towards a Level 2, Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health (Optical Retail), which is equivalent to five GCSEs.

Katie says her sister, who completed an apprenticeship in dental nursing, inspired her to apply for the programme. “I’m the only one of my friends doing an apprenticeship,” she explains. “The others are in college or sixth form and none of them are really enjoying it. I didn’t have any prior knowledge of the optical industry but I was attracted to doing something out of the ordinary and I’m really enjoying it. No two days are the same and I love the variation.”

As the only apprentice at the store, Katie says the team really look after her and help with her learning every day. “It’s a great place to be and I really hope I can stay on with Vision Express after I’ve completed the programme,” she explains. “I love talking to customers and helping them and I would recommend the programme to anyone. It’s a great experience and, if anyone is considering it, they should definitely just do it.”

Ian Laing, store manager at Vision Express Sunderland, said: “Our apprenticeship programme continues to be extremely popular and is a fantastic way to nurture young, ambitious talent. We are working closely with Katie to develop her knowledge and skills and hopefully opening up a wealth of career options to enable her to progress further within the company.”

The apprenticeship scheme is just one way Vision Express is helping tackle the issue of youth unemployment in the UK. In 2015 it joined The 5% Club, pledging to have 5% of its UK workforce comprising young people on structured training schemes over the next five years.

Kate Clayton, human resources director, who joined the organisation as an apprentice, said: “It’s great to nurture new talent like Katie’s. Vision Express is a people company and we continue to see a high demand from ambitious youngsters who are keen to share our journey.”

Vision Express CEO Jonathan Lawson added: “Vision Express is a growing company offering unique and diverse career potential and, an average of 46 applicants per position, proves our apprenticeship programme continues to be very popular.”

Managed and delivered by in-house optical experts, the scheme gives candidates the opportunity to earn while they learn, with assessor support and hands-on experience.

The spring apprenticeship intake starts on 8 March. The June intake will be open for applications from late March. To qualify candidates must be at least 16 years old and not in full or part time education.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vision Express .