Kieran says apprenticeship at Chesterfield firm has 'turned his life around'

Kieran Taylor, 21, from Clowne is the 70th apprentice at Xbite, which operates retail brands including 365games.co.uk, Roov.co.uk, Maison & White, Pukkr and Shop4.Xbite, which has a £42 million turnover, has been running a successful apprenticeship programme for seven years with a proven track record of growing and developing people and offering career progression.Its apprentices have graduated to become buyers, marketing experts, accountants, software developers, and even managers of departments at the company, which now employs 170 people at its head offices and warehouse at Barlborough.Kieran, a digital marketing apprentice, said: “This apprenticeship has given my life direction, I was stuck in a rut and didn’t know what I wanted to do and it has changed my life around.

"Now my creativity is fuelled and I have found a new focus. I am learning so many skills and getting paid for what I love doing.“This is such an amazing company, the management are friendly, supportive and so helpful.

“I have found the first proper job I have ever wanted to do and take pride in.

"I have made a proper commitment to a job and have found a career. It is the best move I have ever made. I would highly recommend an apprenticeship at Xbite.”The company works with Chesterfield College, Sheffield College, Baltic Training, Yorkshire Training Provider and Chambers of Commerce to guide its apprentices who mainly come from Chesterfield and Sheffield.

It also operates a successful graduate recruitment programme with Sheffield City Region’s RISE and has taken on four graduates this year.Nick Whitehead, managing director at Xbite, said: “We are so proud to have Kieran as our 70th apprentice at Xbite.“Apprenticeship schemes are a really good source of talent.

“There are so many success stories here across all ages, even people taking a step backward from their previous career path to be trained up and who now enjoy a better future.”