Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Independent timber and builders merchant Ridgeons has hired its first apprentice of the year, following a newly formed partnership with Cambridge Regional College.
Ryan Taylor, 19, from Cambourne has started a two year apprenticeship across a number of departments at Ridgeons’ flagship branch on Cromwell Road.
The two year apprenticeship, will see him achieve a Sales NVQ level 2, as well as gain experience in all departments at Ridgeons including; lightside, plumbing and heating, showroom, branch administration, stock, IT, marketing, transport and deliveries. Taylor will also be responsible for handling calls, processing orders and keeping the high standards of customer service expected at Ridgeons.
He said: “I’m so excited to have been given the opportunity to work as an apprentice at Ridgeons. I’m going to be working across a variety of departments, which will not only help me to learn lots of transferrable skills, it will also help me to discover what job role best suits me. Over the next two years I’m really hoping to prove myself by pushing myself to learn as much as I can, which will hopefully see me working in the construction sector for the foreseeable future.”
The new partnership with Cambridge Regional College and the appointment of Ryan marks an exciting new chapter for Ridgeons, which plans on hiring five apprentices over the next year.
Rick Brothwell, general manager at Ridgeons, Cromwell Road, said: “Finding people in the construction industry can be hard – as you need people with the appropriate set of skills, who want to learn and are willing to work hard.
“Ridgeons does a lot of work with the community and apprenticeships are hugely important to this, as they help equip future generations with the right skillset for work. Ryan is full of potential and we are very excited to have him working as part of the Ridgeons team and look forward to hiring more apprentices in the future.”
Ridgeons was recently awarded Gold standard for Investors in People (IIP), for its dedication to exceptional people management, staff training schemes and outstanding employee retention.
