'My skills have greatly improved'
Having struggled on a catering course at South Downs College, Sussex, business administration apprentice Gary Tarbuck, 19, is now in his element doing office work.
It was after surfing the website apprenticeshipsonline.org he discovered a possible opening with Rainer, a national charity for "under-supported" young people employing 150 people.
"Gary arrived on placement, looking for any kind of administration," says Lou Cooper, Rainer's vocational programmes training manager. "But when a position came up here he applied. He's enthusiastic and works well in a team."
Recently Tarbuck was promoted from reception to administrative assistant. "My skills have greatly improved," he says. Meanwhile his salary has risen from £10,000 to more than £15,000, and he is progressing to an advanced apprenticeship.
Further skills and knowledge could lead to a role in training and earn him up to £25,000. "I'd like to be here in five years time," he says.
'I'd rather learn practically'
Engineering student and Unilever employee Craig Robinson, 19, recently named the Learning and Skills Council's north-west apprentice of the year, has thrived since being taken on as a 16-year-old.
Robinson, of Leasowe, Wirral, who attends West Cheshire college, admits that money was an attraction for choosing his path. He says the average salary for engineers after qualifying is £27,000; and a fourth-year apprentice can make £20,000. A first-year starts on £9,500.
"I did 11 GCSEs and got good grades, but I'd rather learn practically," he says. "I'm a very driven person. I'd like to go on and do a degree after. I'm really enjoying it."
He is already proved his worth on the factory floor. During his second year, Robinson devised a simple innovation that has greatly reduced maintenance time for a machine used to stack boxes on pallets. His bright idea saves Unilever around £75,000 a year.
The company has a history of apprentices getting to the top — Gary Calverley, a global vice-president, is one. Most of its current intake, 35 out of 47, attend West Cheshire college on block release. They are part of the company's drive to develop more manufacturing engineers and technical leaders.
It costs Unilever £80,000-£100,000 to train each one but Hazel Elderkin, project manager in engineering development, considers it money well spent. "The return on our investment is very strong — hardly any drop out," she says. "This is a well developed pathway into a career — Unilever is very structured."
