Bransford Webbs tackles staffing through apprentices

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company has appointed two new apprentices following successful interviews and a short trial period.

Karl O’Neill (Propagation and Technical Manager, and mentor to the apprentices), Poppy Griffin, Thomas Everard and Mark Diggines (Trainer Assessor, Pershore College) - image: Bransford Webb
Poppy Griffin and Thomas Everard have both been offered positions on the nursery team. Initial applications were made through The National Apprenticeship Scheme and selecting Bransford Webbs as their chosen employment option.
In conjunction with Pershore College, part of the Warwickshire College Group, and other Midlands Based Growers, Bransford Webbs offers a two year apprenticeship, with a level two work based diploma in horticulture. Both Poppy and Thomas will work in a variety of nursery departments over the next two years and attend six separate week long study sessions at Pershore College.
Bransford Webbs have two apprentices in the second year of the scheme, Billy Wilce and Arthur Dawes, who are due to complete the course at the end of August 2018.
"The apprenticeship schemes, running here since 1989, have been extremely successful for Bransford Webbs, with a number of our current grower, supervisory and management staff beginning their careers with us in this way", said Karl O’Neill, Propagation and Technical Manager, who is mentor to the current apprentices. "We are finding the new format of the apprenticeship scheme is working extremely well for us; with our two students from last year and two this year, we currently have four very capable apprentices within our nursery team. So the future looks bright."

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