Arden promotes apprenticeships for existing employees

On 8 February 2024, during National Apprenticeship Week, we highlighted how apprenticeships were being used to develop skills among existing employees as well as provide routes into manufacturing for younger people. Arden was using the Apprenticeship Levy to support workforce development and progression within the business. Our latest participants were Steven Thompson and Anthony “Tony” Lynch, who together had accumulated more than 38 years of service with Arden. Steven had joined 12 years earlier as a CNC machine operator and had recently become Product and Process Improvement Specialist, while Tony, Production Manager for Dies and Engraving, had worked at Arden for more than 26 years. Both were preparing to begin Level 5 Operations and Departmental Management apprenticeships. The programme covered areas including leadership, communication, problem solving, project management, operations and finance. For Arden, supporting two experienced employees through management apprenticeships demonstrated how the apprenticeship model could be used for continuing professional development and to strengthen management skills within the existing workforce.