Apprenticeships in Action - Philippa Hobby from Fera Ltd

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO EMPLOY AN APPRENTICE/ APPRENTICES?

Recruiting talent through apprenticeships is central to our growth strategy for the future. Since 2013, Fera has taken on over 40 laboratory technician apprentices, many of whom have secured permanent positions at the end of their apprenticeship at Fera.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE/ HIGHLIGHT

In recognition of the commitment by Fera to its apprenticeship programme, we won large employer of the year at the York apprenticeship awards last year. This year, apprentices at Fera have started the level 4 BTEC HNC in Applied Biology with Leeds City College and Fera also launched a level 6 laboratory scientist degree apprenticeship, with York St John University.

PLEASE DEsCRIBE THE BENEFITS OF APPRENTICES IN YOUR BUSINESS

Fera are proud of our apprenticeship programme, and of the apprentices who have completed this with us. We encourage our apprentices to apply original thinking to their work, and to cultivate a high quality broad science skill set to deliver world class science, providing them with a solid foundation for their future career.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF OFFERING AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME OVER OTHER TRAINING OR EDUCATION?

Fera Science is proof that apprenticeships harness new talent that bring innovative ideas, enabling us to continue to deliver our world-class science, whilst also developing the next generation of scientists.