National Apprenticeship Week – Employer Tuesday
At GEM Partnership we value our relationship with our partners and their feedback on our provision is pivotal to our continuous improvement.
This #NAW2025 we’ve spoken to key stakeholders within our partners businesses to see how our apprenticeships are helping drive development and securing the future of their business.
Adam Dobinson – Learning & Development Business Partner – The Bannatyne Group
“Apprenticeships allow us to invest in our current colleagues and future ones, offering them the opportunity to grow and develop in their current roles whilst gaining skills and knowledge for their future careers within the business.
Gem has been fundamental in this offering for our head office employees, integrating with our teams to offer a flexible delivery approach tailored to the business but most importantly to each individual colleague. We look forward to continuing to grow our Apprenticeship offering across the whole group.”
Jay Williams – Warehouse & Production Manager – Bishops Beds & Furniture
“I decided on the apprenticeship program as here at Bishops Beds we are passionate about investing in the next generation. Not only are we providing local people with real skills and employment we are future proofing our business ensuring we can continue to grow as a local employer with national reach and over 20 years in the mattress in manufacturing industry. This not only benefits us as a business but also the employee, by being able to focus on learning new skills whilst enhancing skills they already possess all directly relevant to the role they currently hold. The apprenticeship program offers the employee the opportunity to put the skills gained into action immediately and we firmly believe this enhances the learning ability whilst providing real time results.
“Since utilising the apprenticeship programme for current employees and seeing the benefits it provides, it has given us the confidence to look at areas of our business where we would benefit from having fresh new talent. I have partnered with Gem and I am currently looking to employ 2 first year apprentices. One for a Level 2 Supply Chain and Warehousing apprentice, upon completion they will move onto a team leader/supervisor level 3 apprenticeship. I am also looking for a Level 2 Lean manufacturing apprentice that will become a skilled machine operator. Both these opportunities will lead to a permanent full-time position upon successfully completing the apprenticeship program. I firmly believe by offering a chance to gain a recognised qualification whilst earning a salary and relevant experience will be of great benefit to us as a business and give the employee the confidence to excel in the role.
“I have seen a meaningful engagement from all the staff in putting into practice the skills they have gained; we have already implemented continuous improvement ideas that have been put forward from the staff which have improved our manufacturing process. Gem have been brilliant in supporting me with all aspects of recruitment/training and upskilling. I would like the especially thank Kelly Lee, Beth Conley and Jen Dunthorne for being patient with me and answering all my many questions and for providing support in every aspect of the process, from deciding the right apprenticeship to advertising and recruitment.”
Erin Walker – HR Business Partner – Mission Foods
At the start of my professional career, I began as an HR Apprentice while studying the Business Administrator Level 3 Standard with GEM. This experience allowed me to witness first-hand the depth and quality of the programmes GEM delivers, as well as the many benefits of an apprenticeship. When I later joined Mission Foods, I was already familiar with GEM’s exceptional approach, and as our agency provider, I knew the value they could bring to our apprentices. Unlike many other providers who have limited in-person engagement, GEM’s trainers regularly visit our site, building strong relationships with apprentices and offering 24/7 support. They also keep managers informed on progress and highlight any additional ways we can support the apprentices’ development. GEM has far exceeded expectations as a provider, and our apprentices would wholeheartedly agree.
Using an apprenticeship programme for these roles, rather than traditional recruitment or direct promotion, has brought significant benefits. Apprenticeships provide structured training that ensures employees develop the right skills, knowledge, and behaviours for their roles, rather than just learning on the job without formal guidance. This approach helps to bridge skill gaps and create well-rounded, competent employees who are confident in their abilities. Additionally, apprentices’ gain nationally recognised qualifications, which not only benefit them individually but also add long-term value to the business. Unlike standard recruitment, apprenticeships encourage a culture of continuous learning and development, increasing employee engagement and retention. They also allow us to nurture talent from within, ensuring a pipeline of skilled professionals who are aligned with the company’s values and way of working. Overall, the apprenticeship route has proven to be a more effective and sustainable way of building a highly skilled workforce.
Yes, the successes of our apprenticeship programmes have led us to consider expanding into different areas of the business. For new employees in new roles, we have found the Business Administrator Standard to be an excellent starting point, as it is highly adaptable and suits a variety of roles. However, we have also started to explore apprenticeships for employees already in roles, whether for succession planning or to provide them with a more in-depth understanding of their responsibilities. As a result, we now have employees studying the Team Leader Standard, and we are actively looking into the Level 3 Improvement Technician Apprenticeship, Level 4 Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship, and potentially the Level 5 Operations Manager Apprenticeship in the future. Expanding our apprenticeship offering will allow us to further develop our workforce, ensuring continuous growth and long-term success for both our employees and the business.
GEM Partnership’s approach to delivering our apprenticeship programmes has been outstanding. Their commitment to providing high-quality training and support has made a significant difference in the development of our apprentices. GEM’s trainers regularly visit our site, allowing them to build strong relationships with both apprentices and their managers. This hands-on approach ensures that any challenges are addressed quickly and that learners receive the guidance they need to succeed. The trainers are always accessible, offering 24/7 support, which has been invaluable in keeping apprentices engaged and motivated. Their proactive and flexible approach has exceeded our expectations, making them a trusted partner in developing our workforce.