MARCH 2009 futures
15futures
E
LLY Bates is the
face of
apprenticeship
recruitment for
Salterbeck's Alcan
Packaging plant. How
did she become such a
significant member of
the company's HR
team?
When did you get involved with the
apprentices and their development?
My role changed approximately ten years
ago with my involvement in the training of
new apprentices and approximately five
years ago I was given the responsibility of
recruiting the apprentices. This is a very
rewarding part of my role. I enjoy being
involved with the growth of the
apprentice, seeing them develop into
competent, confident, skilled printers.
How do you help and support them?
The first week of the apprentice's
employment is an induction week and they
are then based in the training room for
around another two to three weeks doing
a health and safety project. During this
time, I build up a rapport with the group as
they use me as main point of contact.
When the project is complete and the
basic health and safety awareness is being
displayed, the apprentice is then allocated
to a print machine and trainer.
All apprentices have their own assessor
and mentor in the print room.
When did you win the Alcan Packaging
Global 5 Star Award?
I won the award in January. The People Star
� I was nominated by my colleagues for my
hard work implementing and managing
the Apprenticeship Training Scheme at
Alcan Packaging Cumbria. I was speechless,
absolutely delighted that my hard work
had been recognised by the company.
IN THE WORKPLACE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Meet Alcan's new
girls on the block
L
AST year saw Alcan Packaging
recruit its first ever female
apprentices. Kathryn Higgins and
Jennifer Pyne became the next
chapter in the firm's history books
and the pair have now paved the way for
more female apprentices.
Frances Flanagan and Stacey Neen are
the newest additions to an ever-growing
junior female team at the Salterbeck
plant. The trainee print technicians
started with Alcan Packaging in
September and have not looked back.
The pair are undertaking their
apprenticeships through Alcan Packaging
in association with training provider
GEN II, and have enjoyed every minute of
their training so far.
Stacey, 18, of Whitehaven, said: "I
wanted a different challenge so when I
saw I could train as a print technician at
Alcan I knew that was the career choice
for me. It was an unusual choice for a girl
so it appealed to me.
"I first found out about the
apprenticeship at a careers fair which
was held at my school."
Frances, 20, of St Bees, said her brother
was sent information inviting him to
apply as he matched the selection criteria.
She saw the information and contacted
the HR department to ask what she
needed to do to apply.
"Just from the information I read,
which was sent to my brother, it made me
realise how interesting it could be to go
into printing," Frances said. "I didn't
want to go to university so I went to a
careers fair at the Whitehaven Civic Hall
and found out more about what the
apprenticeship involved."
Frances and Stacey began their
training with a two-week induction period
where all new apprentices must prove to
an assessor that they have adequate
awareness of working safely in the
production area before they are allocated
to a machine crew. Their health and
safety training then continues through
the life of the course.
"We began working on the short run
flexographic machine which prints
packages," Frances said. "It's been really
good since starting in September and
already we've learned the basics and
started training in the different printing
techniques and processes."
Stacey added: "We work with mentors
on the plant so we have someone there to
support us if we need any help and once a
month we're set new targets so it keeps
things new and interesting.
"At first the thought of going into a
male-dominated environment was quite
daunting but it's actually been quite easy
because Kathryn and Jenni are there to
talk to. But the lads on the plant have
made us feel very welcome."
Frances and Stacey are the only females
on the printing course at Leeds College of
Technology where the apprentices work
through their NVQ qualification. All the
print apprentices spend time in Leeds on
block release where they completed two
weeks studying in November and where
they will then undergo two weeks in
March and one week in June.
"It's a good experience to learn
somewhere different and meet other
apprentices from across the country doing
the same thing as you," Stacey explained.
"It's a totally different learning
environment.
"As part of our block release we have to
pass three practical exams at the end of
each period. The NVQ is ongoing
throughout the apprenticeship, some of
which is done over the internet. But other
aspects of the training are on-the-job and
we have to pass two practical exams here
at Alcan Packaging.
"It's a form of learning which is perfect
for me. It's the best decision I've ever
made to start at Alcan Packaging and I
definitely plan on staying in printing. It's
certainly a career girls should consider."
The industry is looking to attract more
females into the role.
Stacey said: "I definitely plan to stay in
printing for quite some time yet and I
would recommend it to girls who enjoy
hands-on work or learning in a work
environment. There are plenty of
opportunities to get into a career like this.
"All the team are really helpful and
very supportive; it's a great environment
to be in and the work is really interesting,
there are so many skills needed in
printing. People don't realise what is
involved in producing packaging.
"If you're the type of person who loves
getting dirty and doesn't mind getting
covered in paint then this is right up your
street. You can't take yourself too
seriously here. But I would say, as a
female in a male-dominated industry,
expect to be treated like everyone else."
PROFILE
CAPTION STYLE: Stacey Neen, 18, left, and Frances Flanagan, 19, both from Whitehaven, are
the two latest female apprentice printers at Alcan Picture: Paul Johnson
Elly Bates
WORKING
TOWARDS
THEIR
NVQ EXAM

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