A training and apprenticeship specialist has already placed 100 young people into companies within nine months of launching his new enterprise.
Steve Rushton set up Training and Business Solutions last November, and says he’s determined to spread the word about the “life-changing power” of apprenticeships.
Steve, who was previously Director of Partnerships at Achieve Training – part of the Aspire Housing Group, decided to take a leap of faith into the world of self-employment.
He said: “It’s been hard work, but the effort is always trumped by the outcome when you know you are helping to change lives.”
“I’ve now passed the landmark figure of supporting 100 people into apprenticeships. At least half of those will be 16 to 18-year-olds going into their first employment – a truly transformational, life-changing experience.”
Training and Business Solutions works with a diverse range of companies. This means recruits are spread across many trades, including manufacturing, construction, admin, social media marketing, retail, logistics, IT and digital.
Pottery giant Churchill China is among organisations that have worked with Steve on both apprenticeship recruitment and training opportunities for more senior staff.
Senior HR Manager Lisa Barnett said: “With the growth of our business we identified the need to develop our middle management to provide them with the skills and strategies to develop their team members.
“Training and Business Solutions have always been very responsive to our training and recruitment needs and always go the extra mile to ensure we fulfil our requirements.”
In addition to the formal apprenticeship recruitment work, Steve, of Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, is also keen to educate the general public on the benefits of apprenticeships and training and has held apprenticeship question and answer sessions in venues such as workingmen’s clubs.
Steve added: “A Chartered Management Institute report said apprenticeships benefit business in Britain to the tune of £700 million within a decade of their start date, with each business using higher level apprenticeships seeing average production gains of £7,000 per apprentice over the course of the apprenticeship.
“They offer opportunities to both job seekers and companies, as apprenticeships can take young people on a learning path from job entry to degree level, providing opportunities to learn and earn.
“There’s also much evidence that apprenticeship recruitment creates a more loyal workforce, willing to grow with companies.”
