Published Tue, Mar 15th 2016
A former apprentice who is now a director of multi-million pound turnover business J Tomlinson is backing National Apprenticeship Week.
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A former apprentice who is now a director of a multi-million pound turnover business is backing this year’s National Apprenticeship Week. Pete Woods, operations director at contractor J Tomlinson, began his career in construction in 1994 as an apprentice joiner. Twenty years later he was appointed as a director at the Nottingham-based company, having worked for J Tomlinson since 2000.
He now has the responsibility for the regeneration division at the company and the delivery of its contracts, at a time when the firm is experiencing unprecedented growth. During National Apprenticeship Week 2016 – which has the theme of ‘rising to the top’ – Pete and J Tomlinson are shining a spotlight on the opportunities that apprenticeships can create.
“I left school with no GCSEs. The training and support I received as part of my apprenticeship gave me the skills, confidence and building blocks for a career that has taken me from an apprentice joiner at a small design and build company in Nottingham to a senior position at J Tomlinson, now one of the most successful, growing contractors in the East Midlands,” said Pete.
“Just like me, there are many people who prefer a more hands-on approach to learning and skills development that doesn’t involve sitting in a classroom all the time. Undertaking an apprenticeship can benefit them greatly.”
Running from 14th to 18th March, National Apprenticeship Week is coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
“J Tomlinson is currently supporting more than 20 apprentices and trainees within our company, providing the funding and support to help them work towards professional qualifications,” said Pete.
“We are continually looking for new talent to develop and therefore are open to supporting many more apprenticeships and training schemes in the future.”
Nineteen-year-old customer liaison officer at J Tomlinson Faz Hussain, from Beeston, has recently secured a permanent job at the company following the completion of her apprenticeship this month (March).
She has ambitions to be a senior CLO with a few years more experience and progress up, potentially to management level.
“There is always the opportunity to progress here, and I have a passion for success,” she said. “Lots of line managers have given me time and I always get plenty of help from other guys who have lots of experience in the job.”
IT and telecommunications apprentice Lewis Jones, 17, from Stapleford, is also enjoying his training at J Tomlinson. He needed back surgery early in his apprenticeship, which he mentioned during his interview for the position, and has been delighted with the support he has received before, during and after his operation.
“I had to have back surgery, which meant I was out of work for eight weeks. I get loads of support. The atmosphere in the office is awesome,” said Lewis, who left school after taking GCSEs. “Everyone here is so nice, even the directors are awesome, they make you feel welcome and say hello in the yard.”
Long term, Lewis aims to get qualified in IT, learn all aspects of his trade, complete more training in telecoms, and has ambitions to become an IT manager.
Group systems manager at J Tomlinson Tracy Price is another firm supporter of apprenticeships and trainee schemes.
She began working at the company straight from school in 1997 and has progressed up the ranks from administration assistant to her current role of group systems manager, which she took on in May 2014. In this role Tracy is responsible for the entire group systems, delivering appropriate training to the business, and coordinating all operations delivered through IT.
“Apprenticeships and trainee schemes, along with continuous development, are a very important part of helping individuals and companies to grow, and I’ve welcomed the training and development opportunities that I’ve received since I left school and joined J Tomlinson almost 20 years ago, which has enabled me to continually develop my career,” she said.
J Tomlinson, which has its headquarters at Lilac Grove, Beeston, operates across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire, employs more than 380 people, and has been named in Deloitte’s Businesses Leading Britain 2014 report, which provides insights into the UK’s 1,000 fastest-growing businesses with annual revenues between £30 million and £1 billion.
The firm offers services in construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical engineering, and facilities management, and works across a range of sectors including social housing, emergency services, health and care, education, retail and commercial property. A privately owned company, the business has recently introduced a ‘people strategy’ to ensure that employees benefit from training, development and career progression opportunities.
