Meet the apprentice: Thanet Earth

Here, apprentice Sanita Skuja and training manager Sarah Quattroluni explain the benefits, personally and to the company.

The apprentice: Sanita Skuja​

I trained in lean principles through provider Remit. The experience was really helpful to me, and I learned a great deal.

I do now feel I can go further and would like more training in the management side of things so I can continue to progress through the company.

Our development coach has worked in the industry for many years, and is a real inspiration. Having such a person at Thanet Earth helps us apply our training to have a real impact on the business we are working in.

He has trained us to identify ways we can develop more efficient processes through the application of lean principles – which saves the company time and money, while still achieving the same end result.

I have come to appreciate that the apprenticeship and the training I’ve received have been really important to my career, both now and for my future in this industry.

Now I have completed the Remit qualification, I will always have the confidence to take on further training to enhance my skills and give added value to my employer. I have also become a lot more confident in my use of English.

The employer: Sarah Quattroluni​

When we started our apprenticeship programme last year, we had no idea how beneficial it was going to be – not only to the company as a whole, but to each individual member who signed up.

At Thanet Earth, we really value our employees and encourage progression and development. The appren-ticeships have supported many of the team’s development and, in some cases, it has led to promotions and new job roles.

Apprenticeships are carried out entirely on-site, and each apprentice gets regular visits from training provider Remit’s apprentice development coaches. Several apprentices have been required to complete assignments, which looked for areas of improvement within the business, as part of their qualification. This has led to some big cost savings.

From my experience as a training manager, I would encourage any organisation to embrace apprenticeships as a way of upskilling existing employees or bringing in new recruits. We look forward to the next group of apprentices achieving their qualifications next year.