Conservatory Outlet Continues Expansion of Apprentice Scheme

Conservatory Outlet Ltd has employed three new apprentices in recent weeks as part of an ongoing expansion of its apprenticeship programme.

The Wakefield-based company, which employs over 150 members of staff from its 60,000 sq ft manufacturing base, has worked closely alongside an independent training provider as part of an ongoing commitment to supporting local students and job seekers by providing work trails and apprentice roles within the fenestration industry.

The three new apprentices – Cayleigh Atkinson-Hepworth, Karla Watson and Joshua Childe – are all set to complete Business Administration Level 3 qualifications over the next 15 months, working full-time as part of Conservatory Outlet’s Finance and HR teams respectively. The trio will be required to complete eight hours of work-based learning each week, in addition their roles within the company, and will attend monthly 1-2-1 sessions with a designated tutor.

Each of the new apprentices began the scheme with the intention of building an impressive skills base and gaining valuable insight into working for one of Yorkshire’s premium manufacturers. The key responsibilities of each apprentice throughout the duration of the course includes; order processing and invoicing, data input, pre-employment and new starter processes, customer service queries and other general administration.

The addition of the new apprentices bolsters what has already proved to be a hugely impressive scheme for Conservatory Outlet in recent years. Since 2018, the company has successfully trained and employed four apprentices across multiple departments and enrolled a further five apprentices on similar schemes.

Karen Starkey, Head of HR at Conservatory Outlet said: “We’re delighted to welcome Cayleigh, Karla and Joshua to the team as we continue to invest in the future of our workforce. We’ve always placed great emphasis on the continual expansion of our apprenticeship scheme.  Our latest recruits have already proven to be incredibly valuable members of the team.

“The strength of the scheme has meant that we’ve been able to employ young, hungry individuals that are keen to learn and hone their skills as part of our team. It’s something we’re absolutely committed to continuing in the long term and we’re extremely excited to see what the future holds.”

Mick Giscombe, Managing Director at Conservatory Outlet, concludes: “We are determined to provide career opportunities to an increased number of people from the local area and our apprenticeship programme allows us to do this.

“By offering an alternative to full-time study, apprentices enjoy earning a competitive salary whilst training on the job. We hope that this will be the start of many more successful careers at Conservatory Outlet.”