Introducing George Alden-Smith (new apprentice) and his employers

THE APPRENTICE

The first batch of BiKBBI sponsored apprentices have begun their journey to becoming fully qualified KBB installers. We talk to one of them - George Alden-Smith about his first impressions and what his hopes and aspirations are for the future; we also speak to his employer, Marshall Scott Ltd, whose team are supporting him to find out their thinking and what they expect from George…

▶ Tell us a bit about yourself George, where are you from and how old are you? Maldon near Chelmsford, Essex. I'm 19.

▶ Who is your employer? Marshall Scott Ltd the company specialises in kitchen fitting.

▶ Have they been supportive in you taking an apprenticeship role? Yes, very much so. When they first employed me they set out what they wanted me to achieve and even paid for me to go on a starter electrical course in Gatwick. They paid for all my expenses too. ▶ How is your time split between site work and college work? I have a day release on Thursdays to attend my apprenticeship course at the impressive PROCAT college.

▶ Which are you enjoying the most at the moment, the practical work or the theory at PROCAT? It depends, both really I guess. When I’m on site I work with just one installer every day and even though we get on really well he’s quite a bit older than me, it’s nice to see all my friends of around the same age at the college once a week, I suppose it gives my working life a nice variation. I like the split if I’m honest.

▶ Are you impressed with the PROCAT set-up? Yes definitely. For a college that has only just set up these apprenticeships in conjunction with the BiKBBI, they really know what they are doing.

▶ How did you become aware of a potential career in kbb installation? Through a friend of my Dad. I had been working in carpentry in Colchester for about a year before I took this job and it all fitted perfectly because it stimulated my interest as a career and it also benefitted me for being located much closer to where I lived and better still, it involves working indoors and therefore out of the cold and inclement weather in the winter which I didn’t like .

▶ And why did you choose ‘fitted interiors’ course? I like seeing a job through from start to finish. To rip out a tired old kitchen and replace it perfectly with new units etc. gives me great satisfaction, I really enjoy it.

▶ Are you enjoying the course? Yes, definitely.

▶ What do you most like about KBB installation Standing back and seeing the end product at the end of a job

▶ And what do you least like? At the moment I’m not so keen on the plumbing. I’ve done quite a bit of it on site but we haven’t got to this area yet at college, maybe when we do I will enjoy it a little more. 

▶ What are your career plans and ambitions? Hopefully, once I’m fully qualified I can go self-employed which my employer wants as well. I guess my long-term ambition is to own my own company. ▶ Finally, what do you like to do in your spare time? I play rugby on Tuesday’s and Thursdays. I play for the first team at Maldon Rugby Club as a tight-head prop or hooker, I’ve been playing for 10 years and my Uncle is Head Coach there. I did judo for 5 years and got to brown belt level and then fell out of love with it a bit so stopped. I love socialising with all my rugby mates, I’d be the first one to say let’s go out.

THE EMPLOYER

▶Whereabouts is the business based? 125 High Street, Maldon, Essex. It’s a beautiful coastal town near Chelmsford.

▶Can you be specific about what your company does please? (e.g. kitchen installation, bathroom installation, both? Do you fit bedrooms? Carry out your own construction work etc.) We design and install mid to high end kitchens and pride ourselves on creating designs that encompass a whole area and bring in a wow factor. With clever design we achieve this cost effectively by balancing spending the money where it matters most to the customer. We also do small construction work as part of the kitchen renovation. ▶How old is the business? The business has been in operation for 5 years. We rebranded last year after deciding to drop homewares and concentrate solely on kitchens. This gave the business greater focus on the area we enjoy the most.

▶How many people are employed? There are currently 5 employees.

▶I assume that this is your first apprentice appointment? Yes, George is our first apprentice.

▶Why now? We are expanding the business and know that we will need a greater number of quality craftsmen in the future. Taking George on now is the first step to ensuring the high standards we set are introduced at an early stage. It also allows us to contribute to the community by giving young talent the opportunity to develop this valuable skill set.

▶What do you hope to achieve by this initiative? I would like it to produce craftsmen that are knowledgeable and have been taught the correct way to fit a kitchen. Many kitchen fitters underestimate the complexity and craftsman skill required for installing bespoke high end products. Our kitchens are high quality bespoke products, and this aspect of joinery poses challenges to the less experienced kitchen fitter. Over the 2 years George 

is training, this initiative will give him the guidance of true craftsmen and hands on experience with the challenges found at the premium product level.

▶Why this particular lad? George came recommended by one of our craftsmen and we discovered he had a great customer focused disposition with a real willingness to learn the trade. He is a lovely lad that gets on well with everyone, showroom staff and customers alike and is a pleasure to develop.

▶How will his time be split between education and onsite training? He has 1 day a week in college and the remaining four days he spends with our craftsmen on customer sites. ▶Did you have apprenticeship training? And if so in what? If not, do you wished that there had been a bespoke apprenticeship as this BiKBBI initiative in conjunction with PROCAT? I didn’t have apprenticeship training, however Lee Thomas our senior designer began his career with an apprenticeship in cabinet making which he said has been invaluable throughout his career. We first contacted PROCAT through his recommendation.

▶Why do you think there has been a lack of apprenticeships in the past? I think many businesses simply don’t plan for the future, and often have a revolving door when it comes to fitters, with one moving on after the other. They therefore don’t have the consistency of approach to train with. As we strive to always deliver consistency and quality we have a different approach as it future proofs our business. Having an apprentice does come with costs both financially and in time but this BiKBBI initiative in conjunction with PROCAT genuinely makes it much easier.

▶How long have you been BiKBBI members? The BiKBBI is new to us but any organisation that helps improve the quality of the industry can only be a good thing and help retailers such as ourselves.

For more information please telephone: 01268 662 444 (option 2 for apprenticeships)or email enquiries@procat.ac.uk