The challenge of attracting young talent is one faced by businesses across the country every day. It is with this in mind that Fernco continues to invest in the next generation, promoting apprenticeships across the business, and giving young people the opportunities and skills to grow their careers.

But what is life really like as a Fernco apprentice? Here, Fernco’s latest apprentices Jacob, Declan and Abigail discuss their experiences, reflecting on their apprenticeship journey, and how it has positioned them for future success.

Completing his level 4 sales apprenticeship, Jacob Pashley was Fernco’s first apprentice, joining straight after his A-Levels. He has since gone on to become a pivotal member of the Fernco sales team and is an area sales manager covering Yorkshire and the Humber, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

“For me, the biggest thing has been the hands-on learning. You can’t beat real-life experience, especially in sales. From day one, I’ve felt like a truly valued member of the business and was tasked with hitting deadlines and delivering results. This was the best grounding I could have asked for, and while it has been challenging, I have grown in confidence massively and love what I do. The skills I have learnt during the course have been invaluable, but more importantly, is the trust I’ve been given. Fernco has been a fantastic place to learn and grow – long may it continue.”

Having completed a graphic design course at Rotherham College, Declan Taylor joined Fernco looking to kickstart a career in digital marketing. Now, more than a year on, he has completed a level 3 apprenticeship and has continued his professional development within the marketing team, moving onto level 4 marketing executive.

“When I joined Fernco it was very much about the start of a career. Like many people my age, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I had a passion and pursued it. The apprenticeship was exactly what I needed and allowed me to not only learn the principles of marketing but then apply them in real time. I’ve been given a great deal of variety and real responsibility and ownership of what I do. I think that’s so important when you’re learning, and has allowed me to explore my passions, my strengths and my weaknesses and I feel I’m far more well-rounded as a result. As an apprentice you aren’t just shut away somewhere, you’re right in the thick of it, and I’ve worked on some incredibly rewarding projects already, with even more to come this year. The mentoring I’ve had from the rest of the team has been amazing. I genuinely could not have asked for a better place to learn.”

The latest apprentice to join Fernco was Abigail Fletcher. She has completed a level 3 business administration apprenticeship with Fernco where she has enjoyed time in various departments of the business. She felt most at home in accounts and has now taken up a position as a trainee accountant after completing her apprenticeship in June 2024.

“My time at Fernco has been really interesting. I won’t lie, I never saw myself working in a manufacturing environment, and it’s taken time to wrap my head around exactly what Fernco do. But I couldn’t be happier with how the last year has gone. Working on a variety of tasks across departments has given me so much confidence, and I’ve learnt so much from everyone I’ve worked with. In terms of next steps, Fernco has been so supportive in helping me choose the right path. At school, maths was my biggest strength, and I’ve always thought accountancy would be a good fit. I’m so grateful to Fernco for the opportunity to pursue that as a career. Being part of such a friendly and encouraging environment is amazing, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”