Green-tech is providing its employees with the opportunity to study for a higher education qualification whilst continuing to work, by offering Degree Apprenticeships.
Designed in partnership with employers; higher and degree apprenticeships offer a higher education qualification, work experience and industry-relevant skills to create graduate calibre individuals within an organisation. Leeds Trinity University will be running the Degree Apprenticeships for Green-tech.
Green-tech has long since invested in sourcing, developing, and retaining ‘talent’. In 2017 they embraced the Government’s Apprenticeship scheme which saw them take on several apprentices. It was a huge success with a 75% retention rate and the company continues to take on apprentices directly from school or college. Their latest being a Supply Chain Warehouse Operative Apprentice.
Three of Green-tech’s team across the marketing, IT and purchasing departments have enrolled in the Degree Apprenticeship courses. Kate Farrer, Marketing Executive has recently started a Digital Marketing Degree, George Shepherd a software engineering degree and Sarah Whitley a Supply Chain degree.
George started with the company as a customer service apprentice. After successful completion he progressed to the online and marketing department and has recently been promoted to IT Systems Automation Lead. This role sees him operating as a support link between the commercial and IT departments, working with their CRM system, SAP Business One. George has been encouraged to advance further and is being supported to undertake a three-year software engineering degree.
George comments, “Enrolling for a degree apprenticeship supported by Green-tech will give me the opportunity to progress personally and professionally which will help me to achieve my goals for later life. I will be working my full-time job which will really help with my apprenticeship, I’ll be developing my knowledge, gaining a degree qualification and getting paid. It’s a win-win for me.”
Sarah Whitley is Green-tech’s buyer. She forecasts and buys the thousands of product lines Green-tech sell. She also looks after all pricing enquiries for non-stock items. Sarah is undertaking a BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Supply Chain Leadership which will take her 3.5 years to complete.
Sarah adds, “Throughout my employment, I have always made it clear that I’ve wanted to progress professionally, and Green-tech has always been receptive to that. During the four years I’ve worked here, I’ve been promoted three times, each time gaining more responsibility. Studying for a work-based degree will aid me in becoming better in my current role so that I can better support the Green-tech team and it will also give me a professional/academic qualification that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
The apprentices will gain a ‘debt-free’ University Degree; there will be no costs or tuition fees to fund themselves, and they will study part time at Leeds Trinity University to build on their workplace experience.
Rachel Kay, Green-tech’s Managing Director concludes, “It’s important for our business that we invest in our people and encourage them to have a worthwhile and meaningful career, especially the younger generation just entering the landscaping industry. Our commitment to career development is appreciated by our people and one of the reasons our staff retention rates are high.”
Photo L to R: George Shepherd, Kate Farrer, Rachel Kay, Sarah Whitley
