The Importance of Modern Apprenticeships

Modern apprenticeship programs hold significant importance for employers and young people, offering businesses the opportunity to enrich their workforce and offering young individuals a platform to launch their careers. It was historically perceived that a university degree provided the best chance for people to succeed in their careers. However, this ideology has weakened over recent years, with many young people opting for apprenticeship schemes instead.

A recent report from Multiverse showed that 44% of people in the UK believe that apprenticeships offer young people a better chance of success in their careers than university, and the popularity of these employment opportunities has grown significantly amongst both employers and young people over recent years.

University degrees provide individuals with in-depth knowledge and transferrable skills that can be carried into employment. However, university is not for everyone, and apprenticeship schemes offer people job opportunities at a young age, high-quality training and the necessary skills they require to excel in their careers. 

National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week runs from 5th February to 11th February each year in the UK, raising awareness around the importance of modern apprenticeship schemes and the value they can add to young people’s career prospects. Partnered with the UK Department for Education, National Apprenticeship Week promotes a variety of both in-person and online events for individuals to attend and learn more about the current apprenticeship opportunities on offer throughout the UK.

PG Paper’s Modern Apprenticeship Scheme

For several years now, PG Paper has invested in the modern apprenticeship program to provide young people with the opportunity to be part of a global business. Throughout the apprenticeship tenure, individuals are offered equal learning opportunities and gain experience working with international and diverse teams.

Our program has consistently proven to help young apprentices develop their knowledge and skills in their chosen areas of interest, such as logistics, business development and marketing. Many of these successful apprentices have gone on to become integral members of our team, such as our Logistics Coordinator, Erin, who now acts as a role model for future apprentices through her dedication and enthusiasm to succeed.

The apprentices who have joined us throughout the years have been citizens of Inverclyde, where our UK head office is situated. We aspire to continuously give back to the local community, which is why we have offered the modern apprenticeship scheme for seven years running. 

We currently have two modern apprentices at PG Paper, Trudie Phelan and Kaci Bryce. Trudie and Kaci both live in Inverclyde and decided to apply for the PG Paper modern apprenticeship scheme after they had left school. Earlier this week, we sat down with Trudie and Kaci to find out why they decided an apprenticeship was the career path for them and how they are progressing so far.

Trudie joined the PG Paper team eight months ago after finishing her time at Clydeview Academy and is a key member of the Business Development Enablement team at PG.

Can you share your journey as an apprentice at PG Paper Company so far? What initially attracted you to this apprenticeship opportunity?

I left school unsure of what path I wanted to take, initially choosing to go to college, where I studied Business and Administration for one year. Throughout my time at college, I enjoyed all aspects of the courses and classes I was taking. However, I had hoped to have gained more real-life experience.

As my year was coming to an end, I had to think about what I was going to do next. Throughout my research, I found the modern apprenticeship opportunity at PG. This role stood out to me as it offered the opportunity to work alongside various departments and aspects of the business, including sales, marketing, logistics and finance, which has allowed me to expand my overall knowledge of how the business operates. Throughout my eight months at PG Paper, I have also developed various skills along the way. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far, and I look forward to gaining more experience in the coming months.

I would definitely recommend any young person to think about an apprenticeship, as I believe it has benefited me in many different ways and provided me with a variety of skills that will support my future growth.

Kaci is the youngest member of the PG Paper team, starting her apprenticeship in October 2023 after she had left St Stephens High School last year.

In what way has the company supported your learning and growth throughout your apprenticeship so far?

Since my apprenticeship began, everyone has been so welcoming and kind towards me that I have never felt left out. If I need help with a specific task, I can ask my colleagues for support and receive it from anyone in the office, no matter which department they work in. The office as a whole has such a bubbly and content environment. Since my first day, I have never felt as though I’ve been alone on a task or isolated from the rest of my colleagues.

I’m delighted to have applied for the apprenticeship scheme at PG Paper, as it has been an incredible opportunity for me to grow and gain so much experience from such a young age. I look forward to the months ahead at PG Paper, and I’m excited to progress my skills within the business even further.  

Our CEO, Puneet Gupta OBE, strongly believes in the importance of modern apprenticeship schemes and is proud to have had amazing apprentices work with PG Paper throughout the years.

If you are considering applying for an apprenticeship or would like to know more about our yearly modern apprenticeship scheme, reach out to us at info@pgpaper.com for more information.