Apprentice Sebastian Brand in the workshop at Acorn Doors Ltd

THIS week is National Apprenticeship Week.

Apprenticeships help employees to develop the skills needed to perform their job efficiently and effectively, and can be very rewarding.

Apprentice joiner Sebastian Brand, 16, joined Acorn Doors in June 2007.

The family firm, based in Itchen Abbas, near Winchester, has built a reputation for excellence in the manufacture of traditional doors, which are all produced using time-honoured traditional methods.

Craftsmen provide a bespoke service and doors can be tailor-made to individual specification.

Design director John Corbett has been very impressed with Sebastian's performance.

He said: "Since joining us, Sebastian has quickly learned to use machinery with competence and skill.

"Within one week of training, he was able to produce simple doors to a high standard - which we demand - without guidance.

"Since then, he has worked as part of a team and on his own on many doors of a more bespoke nature."

Sebastian said: "I have reached a stage where I am able to see the process through from start to finish of the job without assistance.

"Seeing the finished product is what makes me love the job so much."

For the individual, apprenticeships are an excellent way to get the skills and qualifications employers really want.

Sebastian added: "I am earning and learning. Learning at the same time as working suits me.

"This apprenticeship is the best life-changing decision I have ever made."

An apprenticeship offers an abundance of benefits to the employer - subsidised training, day release with support from skilled professionals at BCOT, increase productivity, improved teamwork, and improved confidence.

"Sebastian is very keen to learn and is delighted when given new challenges, which he approaches with great enthusiasm," added John.

"His approach and input to our production is of such quality that we have to remind ourselves he is still an apprentice as opposed to a fully-qualified member of the team."

If you would like more information on apprenticeships, contact Monica Lubbock-Smith on 01256 306336 or e-mail monica.lubbock-smith@bcot.ac.uk

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