We've set-up the apprentice scheme as part of our Talent Management initiative to help develop future supervisors and managers for the operational side of our business.
The 18 month programme will develop your management skills and give you a full understanding of Smiths News. You will be working alongside people with vast amounts of knowledge and experience, so you couldn’t be better placed to gain the experience you need to succeed in the logistics industry.
You'll spend your first 12 months gaining hands on experience in each of the departments within the warehouse, learning about how the different roles in those departments contribute to the achievement of our business objectives. As we are a 24 hour a day, 364 days a year business we do require a certain amount of flexibility and apprentices will be expected to cover all areas of the warehouse. This will include a period of time working with the night operations teams. This is an exciting, fast-paced area of the business where the core elements of what Smiths News does are carried out.
The final six months of the programme will involve working closely with supervisors and managers; this will help you to learn about the vital role our managers play in the operation of our business as well as develop an understanding of the skills and abilities needed to perform well in these roles.
Throughout the programme you will receive regular support, training and coaching from the in-house management team and also from our own training and development consultants. As well as receiving first-class training, development and work experience, you will also be working towards a nationally recognised qualification in the form of the Warehousing and Storage Apprentice award, which includes a level 2 NVQ. This will involve working regularly with an external training provider who will make sure that you are progressing towards your NVQ qualification. We will also make sure that you receive sufficient training and support to help you progress towards becoming a future Supervisor or Line Manager. All in all, our Apprentice scheme offers a unique opportunity to build a rewarding career within the logistics industry.