Cornwall Glass Manufacturing

The managing director of a leading Cornish manufacturing firm says apprenticeships are a great way for people and businesses to develop and grow.

Mark Knight, responsible for the day-to-day running of Cornwall Glass Manufacturing, believes companies get as much out of the scheme as the apprentices themselves.

Taking on enthusiastic, young people who are learning on the job adds diversity to a workforce and can also boost morale of the colleagues tasked with mentoring and training.

“You’re building the future,” said Mark. “We’re not getting any younger and apprentices have fresh ideas, things we haven’t thought of before. But also, mentoring those apprentices is good for our colleagues.

“They start to realise their worth and that actually, they know more than they think and that then boosts morale.”

Cornwall Glass Manufacturing, established in 1978, makes insulated glass units that can be used in windows, doors splashbacks and balustrading.

The well-respected firm, which has sites across the South West, including St Austell, has a long history of taking on apprentices in a range of roles, including glaziers, glass operatives, finance assistants, HR and marketing.

Whether they’re working on the factory floor or in an office, Mark says the firm’s apprentices are buddied up with mentors and constantly supported to help with training and confidence.

“We like to call it an apprenticeship journey,” said Mark. “I will review our apprentices every three months and see how they’re getting on.”

Apprentices can be offered salary increases or even financial help towards driving lessons.

“We try to incentivise as we go and nurture and encourage,” added Mark.

The approach is certainly paying off. Cornwall Glass Manufacturing has a number of longstanding employees who arrived here as apprentices, as well as plenty of new starters who are earing and learning.

Kevin Williams is group engineer manager. He started out as an apprentice at Cornwall Glass nearly 20 years ago.

“I found the on-the-job training very beneficial,” he said. “I learnt a lot more from working in the factory environment and actually doing the role, as well as the classroom work.

“The mix of both just worked a lot better for me.”

Kevin said being an apprentice is the ideal platform for anyone looking to start out in employment.

“I would say to people, pick a role or environment that they want to work in, something that they would enjoy and go for it because it’s the best way to learn.”

Apprentice Keiran James is a glass factory operative. He said training and learning on the job at this longstanding local firm has helped him develop as a person, as well as shaping his career.

“I’ve got greater confidence in what I do, greater confidence in myself,” he said, adding that the opportunity to work here gave him the boost he needed when he was just starting out in the job market. “Coming here meant I was able to apply myself to something,” he said.

Keiran has already learnt a great deal about the job, but also about what doing an apprenticeship can mean in the long term. He hopes additional training and support could lead to management roles in the future.

“It’s basically a foot in the door to whatever business you decide to work for,” he said. “My advice would be to anyone going into an apprenticeship is to think about what you want to do beyond it. Look at the path ahead.”

 

See cornwallglass.co.uk