Kesslers International Ltd is one of Europe’s leading designers and manufacturers of Point of Purchase display. It has a well established Apprenticeship programme which has been running for almost twenty years and is driven by the Board of Directors.
Facing an ageing workforce, the company decided to implement a programme of training 4-5 young apprentices a year to increase the number of young, qualified people coming into the business. Many of the apprentices have risen to supervisory roles once their training was complete and they form a critical part of the company’s succession strategy.
Group Deputy Chairman, George Kessler, said: “Apprentices play a crucial role in increasing the competitiveness of the company. The commercial benefit of the programme is that we are able to do things that our competitors are unable to do. An example of this is when we started processing wood on metal punches, giving a processing time saving of 650 per cent. The Apprenticeship training has also updated our existing skills base. With the threat from international competition, it is more challenging than ever to remain competitive. The savings we have achieved are essential to our future prosperity and survival.”
Angela Moore, Chief Executive of Inner London Training said: “Even in these difficult times of recession Kesslers have remained committed to employing and developing apprentices, as well as training other staff. The apprentices that train with Kesslers achieve not only their elements of their Apprenticeship but they grow with the organisation and gain the skills to be responsible adults. I believe that Kesslers deserve to win this award for their long-term continued belief in Apprenticeships and for the commitment they have shown over the past 10 years.”