Former apprentice and director of Chesterfield estate agents urges businesses to join apprenticeship scheme

The head of a Chesterfield estate agents is calling for more businesses to ‘make the most’ of the government’s apprenticeship bonus scheme, after he started his career as an apprentice.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Managing director of Pinewood Property Estates and Chesterfield College are jointly advocating for organisations to join the scheme which launched earlier this month and offers employers a bonus of up to £4,000 per apprentice.

Stacey Davies-Bowler is supporting the initiative which is designed to help businesses expand their team and while individuals develop skills to boost their careers, after he started his carer as an apprentice himself.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The director, who has since led the way for other apprentices to follow in his footsteps, is urging other Derbyshire organisations to take advantage of the financial incentive as well.

Apprentice Alberta Hallam with managing director Stacey Davies-Bowler from Pinewood Properties in Chesterfield.Apprentice Alberta Hallam with managing director Stacey Davies-Bowler from Pinewood Properties in Chesterfield.
Apprentice Alberta Hallam with managing director Stacey Davies-Bowler from Pinewood Properties in Chesterfield.

As part of recent expansion plans, Pinewood Property Estates recruited a new apprentice along with other senior members of staff.

The business worked with Chesterfield College to narrow down their candidate options before they recruited customer service apprentice Alberta Hallam.

Stacey, who admitted the apprenticeship bonus scheme was an added benefit in the decision to take on a new recruit, shared his experience as an employer of apprentices to encourage other small businesses to make the most of the incentive.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “Without young people coming through, any industry gets stagnant.

"If companies are not giving young people a chance and supporting them to learn, they are going to find a huge void in their workforce and the skills they need.

"We have had great success with apprentices over the years and it is good to see young people develop in the organisation.

“In our business, an apprentice is not cheap labour.

"We have to invest a lot of time and effort into developing apprentices but we know we get a payback in the long term.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We get someone who understands our business and our industry who then goes on to contribute to making a profit.

“The incentive scheme gives businesses who might be new to the apprenticeship process of developing their team a good opportunity to try it out.

"The bonus payment could potentially cover a third of an apprentice’s annual salary.

"For a small business this could offer a perfect way to give a young person a start to their career and develop an apprentice to become a valued member of their team.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Apprentice recruitment manager at Chesterfield College Leah Shortt added: “We have been supporting local business like Pinewood Property Estates to grow their team through apprenticeships for many years.

"Now the new incentive scheme is available, we hope it will encourage more employers to explore how apprentices could benefit them.

"We are here to help employers navigate their way through the apprenticeship landscape and access the incentive payments before the deadline.

"Our team of apprenticeship experts is on hand to help employers find the right apprenticeship programme, and the right candidate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Ultimately, this will support them to develop their future workforce and fill those critical skills gaps now and in the future.”

Find for more information about the apprenticeship bonus payment visit https://www.chesterfield.ac.uk/apprenticeship-bonus-payment/ or call 0345 850 1055.

A message from Phil Bramley, Derbyshire Times Editor

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper.

Related topics: