DEVELOPING TALENT
The apprentice – you’re hired and highly regarded Modern apprenticeships have changed hugely along with the world of work, and as employers we need to always be anticipating the changing needs of both the business and people – prospective recruits as well as apprentices and existing employees. By offering apprentices the opportunity to gain a holistic understanding of our business and how it operates is more attractive and stimulating than a narrow, learn-the-ropes and ‘get on with the job’ approach. Opening someone’s eyes to the wider purpose of the business and the breadth of career opportunities within it also nurtures our team spirit and inspires trainees to raise their sights to new career goals. At SUEZ recycling and recovery UK we have supported 146 apprentices on our programme since 2019, putting apprentices at the heart of our recruitment and development strategies. Our approach is shaped both by business need and our philosophy. Working with business and communities to create a low-carbon circular economy is a huge challenge and we need capable people at all levels to accomplish it. Providing learning opportunities for our people is something we’re passionate about, and apprenticeships are a key element of our vision to become a learning organisation. We involve apprentices in business projects, where they shadow senior leaders
20
and directors, facilitate peer support, and encourage them to network within and outside the organisation. Apprentices can broaden their knowledge and experience, putting their current role in context and building on it as they continue on any chosen career pathway. And the starting points for apprenticeships are many and varied, ranging from HGV fitter to business administrator, tax or payroll assistant to mechanical engineer through to MBAs. Our continuous learning programme allows apprentices to gain skills beyond the boundaries of their course and role, and our e-learning platform also makes access inclusive and practicable. External training providers have widened
the array of apprenticeships available, and trainees can study from Level 2 NVQ to a degree qualification. Apprenticeships, irrespective of their level, can be a central part of this rebalancing of the economy – just as the UK rebalances its system of education so that vocational qualifications are awarded the same respect as academic credentials, and STEM-based careers are valued as highly as those in the arts, humanities and professions such as the law. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the value of apprenticeships to trainees, employers and UK Plc is set to grow even faster than it would otherwise have done.
