A knowledgeable and happy workforce is often the secret weapon to success particularly for SME’s who operate with a lean head count.

And, for one Doncaster based company, who recently celebrated 25 years in business, apprenticeships are proving to be a critical part in investing in staff for the future who will learn about niche products and gain essential business skills to allow the business to grow and prosper and build on its success.

“Apprenticeships are really helping us to train staff in the niche production area of our business and for us to teach essential job roles such as administration and accountancy to young people embarking upon their career,” said Sarah Barsby HR and Marketing Director Intastop Ltd. “In partnership with Doncaster College and its apprenticeship scheme we are able to deliver very high quality training and employment opportunities from which we can all benefit.”

Intastop has welcomed Luke Probert to the business who is undertaking an NVQ Level 3 in Engineering Manufacturing with Engineering, Woodworking, Pattern and Model making and who will be an asset to the Product Design Engineering side of the business.

“The popularity of apprenticeships continues to grow and we are seeing the benefits they bring to businesses across the borough,” said Sarah. “In businesses, such as ours, apprenticeships offer a range of options from manufacturing skills and specialised production roles to office based skills such as administration, finance and sales giving the future workforce of Doncaster a firm platform on which to grow and develop worthwhile careers with businesses in the town.

Sarah concluded; “It is really pleasing to see that in recent years more routes to successful careers have been unlocked with a huge variety of on the job training opportunities now available rather than a strictly academic route. Local colleges and training providers are proving very useful to business like ours in marrying our needs with that of their students and to providing support and guidance alongside us as our trainee staff take their first, very important steps into the world of work.”

Further information about apprenticeships for employers and candidates can be found by visiting https://www.don.ac.uk/apprenticeships/