Expertise is one of our core values at Alfred H Knight, which is why we are committed to investing in the development and education of personnel who are looking to further their careers.

Whether it be for those who are just starting out in the world of work, or those who have worked with Alfred H Knight for many years, Apprenticeships can play a huge part in this stream of development as a productive and effective way to grow and develop a motivated, qualified and skilled workforce.

Since 2017, AHK UK has enrolled 21 Apprenticeships with 18 colleagues, ranging from Level 3 (A-Level equivalent) to Level 6 (Degree). We have a combination of colleagues who already worked for the business and new colleagues who have been recruited as Apprentices.

This Learning at Work Week, we spoke with two of our current apprentices to see why they chose to undertake an Apprenticeship with AHK.

Declan Seddon
Age: 19
Full job title: Apprentice Laboratory Technician
Location: UK

What does your day-to-day role look like at AHK?

“I carry out various laboratory processes based on Copper Assay Methods in order to obtain the concentration of copper within the sample.”

What inspired you to choose an Apprenticeship over other opportunities?

“I chose an Apprenticeship over going to University in order to gain a qualification, whilst also developing hands-on experience working in a laboratory environment and earning a wage.”

Why did you choose to join Alfred H Knight over other companies?

“Throughout my interview, everyone that I was introduced to was very welcoming, supportive and made me feel at ease about the whole process. It was clear to me that AHK is the leading company within its market, and their employees clearly mattered to them as a company.”

What do you enjoy most about your Apprenticeship?

“I enjoy being able to apply knowledge from my applied science course to the work I carry out in the laboratory, helping me to both understand my work in greater detail, as well as internalising knowledge from my course.”

What is something you’ve learned since starting your Apprenticeship?

“I feel that I have been able to develop both my communication and multi-tasking skills in order to work as part of a team. This means I’m able to effectively communicate to my colleagues any information they require.”

How does AHK help you, in regards to your Apprenticeship?

“I feel supported within AHK since I’m able to talk with any of my colleagues about any problems or questions which I might have. I also have monthly video meetings with Val Head from the Learning & Development team to make sure that the process is going smoothly.”

Why would you recommend an Apprenticeship at AHK?

“There’s an abundance of support networks, it has a very welcoming working environment and especially during my first stages of training everyone was more than happy to support me with any questions or queries I had.”

What are your plans for the future following this Apprenticeship?

“After completing this Level 3 Apprenticeship, I hope to progress onto the degree Apprenticeship course in order to further my career as a laboratory technician. This would then give me the knowledge to gain an even deeper understanding of my role as well as the reasons and workings behind the methods which I carry out on a daily basis.”

Lily Cross
Age: 20
Full job title: Apprentice Laboratory Technician
Location: UK

What does your day-to-day role look like at AHK?

“I carry out analytical methods to test samples for copper percentages.”

What inspired you to choose an Apprenticeship over other opportunities?

“An Apprenticeship allowed for a more hands-on experience, helping me to develop a greater understanding and more accurate expectations. This route allows me to gain qualifications and learn important skills such as time management at the same time.”

Why did you choose to join Alfred H Knight over other companies?

“When I researched the company, the values really stuck out to me. AHK highlights ambition in their values, which drew me to the company as I wanted the opportunity to learn and develop new skills constantly. As well as this, the expertise on offer gave me confidence that the training was going to be in-depth and clear.”

What do you enjoy most about your Apprenticeship?

“I love the constant development and learning within the role. There are always opportunities to progress and develop which keeps me motivated.”

What is something you’ve learned since starting your Apprenticeship?

“I have definitely learned how to best manage my time, due to having to balance my workload, as I still do work outside of working hours. I’ve also learned to work well under pressure. If a job has fallen behind schedule, I’m now able to use the appropriate methods to ensure that we get the job out on time.”

How does AHK help you, in regards to your Apprenticeship?

“I have monthly performance reviews with my manager, as well as a meeting with Val
Head from the Learning and Development team. This helps to answer any queries I might have throughout that month.”

Why would you recommend an Apprenticeship at AHK?

“There are many courses and areas to go into, as well as the infinite amount of support on offer from line managers and other departments. It’s a great opportunity to stay in education, gain qualifications and experience the hands-on job itself, all at the same time.”

What are your plans for the future following this Apprenticeship?

“Hopefully to work my way up the company and gain more experience and skills within
other fields within AHK.”

We would like to thank Declan and Lily for taking the time to answer our questions and wish them both the best as they continue their Apprenticeships with AHK!

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

If you would like to join a company who are passionate about its people, forward-thinking and continuously growing, keep a lookout for further information on these Apprenticeship opportunities on our dedicated apprenticeships page.