Stockholder promotes youth employment and apprentices

Pictured (L-R): Rob Fern – Commercial Manager, Brad Kendall – Commercial Sales Apprentice, Alisha Jarrett – Purchasing Coordinator and Ethan Donati – Commercial Sales Apprentice

Barrett Steel says it is proud to recognise the importance of apprenticeships in the steel industry as one of its divisions, Barrett Engineering Steel Midlands, is leading the way in showing that traditional industries can do things differently.

The company currently employs three local apprentices, and plans to increase this number over the coming year.

Apprenticeships typically last up to three years and allow an insight into a career that no amount of classroom-based learning can provide. On-the-job training is coupled with an income, and can be supplemented with academic work.

‘It’s challenging to encourage young people to work in this industry’ said Rob Fern, Barrett Steel Commercial Manager, who started his career as an apprentice almost 20 years ago.

“We invest heavily in the apprentices we employ – two of our current staff are completing qualifications alongside their work-placed learning – and we hope we are providing them with a foundation in the industry that will see them working with us for many years to come.”