Member Article

Chemicals specialist grows apprentice numbers

Christeyns, who manufacture and supply detergents and supporting chemicals for the UK laundry sector, has taken on four new apprentices, bringing the total of talented youngsters on their scheme up to ten.

Bradford based Christeyns has been recruiting apprentices for the last six years and takes its role as mentor for tomorrow’s talent very seriously. Two apprenticeship places are on offer each year but due to the high quality of entrants, the firm doubled its apprenticeship hires to four.

Zachari Adams and Lucy Duckworth have joined the company on a Higher Apprenticeship, starting with a 12-month foundation period that takes them around the business to understand “how the work works”.

Keiron Todd and Hena Arif have secured Foundation Apprenticeships and will spend 24-months working in all areas of the business whist studying for a level 2 NVQ qualification in a specific business area.

In addition, all four apprentices will also take a level 2 NVQ qualification in Business Improvement Techniques. Their career pathways will not be chosen until toward the end of the foundation period, and could ultimately be anywhere in the business.

Neville Kildunne, Works Manager and Apprenticeship Scheme Mentor at Christeyns commented: “Our apprenticeship programme provides an excellent training ground where new recruits are fully immersed in the business from day one. We offer a mix of study and work experience that gives exposure to all areas of our business.”

During the last six months of the two year foundation programme each apprentice is steered towards an area of the business in which they have shown the greatest potential. Christeyns’s goal is to offer permanent roles to all apprentices who go through their scheme.

Providing young people with the right skills and opportunities is vital for the future prosperity of both Christeyns and the industry, and the company views its apprenticeship scheme as a crucial part of the recruitment strategy. In 2016 Christeyns won the Yorkshire Post Business in Excellence Apprenticeship Award and also hold the Investors in People Silver Award.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by sara armitage .