Spencer Law, managing director of Refuse Vehicle Solutions Ltd has seen first-hand how young people can thrive in a work environment. Here, he shares his views on apprenticeships… taken from his own humble beginnings.
I started my career as an apprentice over 30 years ago. I wasn’t particularly academic but I was good with my hands and I wanted to get out into the workplace to start earning some money. I became an apprentice HGV mechanic and my life-long passion for large trucks and refuse vehicles began.
Like a lot of people, I found that I learnt a lot more, and more quickly, doing the job rather than learning about it in a classroom. Although I do appreciate that it’s important to understand the theory as well as the practical side.
I’m a big fan of apprenticeships, not just because of my own experience but because I’ve seen first-hand how young people can thrive in a work environment. As well as gaining the right skills and knowledge for their chosen career path, they also learn life skills like how to communicate with people of different ages and from all walks of life. In many cases they are learning from people with 20-30 year’s experience behind them and benefiting from a lifetime’s worth of knowledge.
I think some companies are put off because they think they will invest time, money and resources into training a young person only for them to up and leave when they are qualified. However, I believe much of that is to do with money and how you treat them. If you pay them what they are worth and value them, they will stay.
It’s important that we invest in the younger generation and equip them with the necessary skills, not just for them but also for succession planning so that we can continue to provide specialist services. You speak to any HGV operator and they will tell you how hard it is to find qualified mechanics with the right experience to do the job. The apprenticeship scheme is a great way to make sure that the next generation is learning the right skills, and in the right place, to provide a future for businesses such as ours.
I think some companies are put off because they think they will invest time, money and resources into training a young person only for them to up and leave when they are qualified. However, I believe much of that is to do with money and how you treat them. If you pay them what they are worth and value them, they will stay.
The Government states that apprentices must be paid the minimum wage but we always pay them above the statutory minimum and we have a salary structure in place once they reach 18 and have qualified. We believe strongly in creating a career path for them so they can grow with the business.
10 years ago, apprenticeships seemed to have all but disappeared from view and I’m glad the government is now incentivising companies to take on apprentices. But, I think they could do more.
Worthwhile Investment
There are lots of businesses who don’t have to pay the Apprenticeship Levy as their annual salary bill is less than £3m, and they probably haven’t considered taking on apprentices. The Government could do more to help these companies connect with local colleges to find young people who are keen to work for them.
We have forged great relationships with some local schools. We attend their careers fairs and open days, take a refuse truck along and talk to the pupils. The schools tell us how much the children enjoy hearing about the work we do, and the engineering and technology involved in the operation of the vehicles. They are surprised about the interesting opportunities that exist in the waste management sector.
Essentially the way it works is that we recruit a school leaver and contact a college to arrange a suitable course. The college then arrange the funding. We pay something towards their course but it is usually subsidised to some degree by the Government. Alternatively, we take on young person who is already at college and set up their work placement with us. They either go to college on a day per week basis or sometimes it can be one week out of four or five. Whichever it is, we plan for it so it doesn’t disrupt the business. We think it’s a worthwhile investment.
Currently we have five apprentices across various departments – accounts, service administration and engineering – and when they have qualified we will seek more apprentices to take their place.
George Pearson (pictured above) joined us in November 2016, aged 18. It was his first job and first time in a work place. He works in our Service department and is involved with the repair and maintenance jobs that are going through our workshop, completing job sheets, updating customers and managing engineers’ timesheets. He has already completed his Business Admin Level 2 NVQ and is now working towards Level 3.
George said: “I did a year full-time at college but I learn a lot more being an apprentice. It’s a good balance – learning on the job helps me get the grips with the theory and apply it to real work situations, and vice versa. I also get to speak to other apprentices on my course and hear about what they’re doing.
“I have felt really comfortable and welcome at RVS since day one. The people are nice and down to earth, and everyone is treated equally. They’re a great company to work for.
RVS organises the National Refuse Championships, which raises money for The Alzheimer’s Society. Visit www.nationalrefusechampionships.co.uk
