National Apprenticeship Week 2019
Fairfields are proud to be supporting the government’s National Apprenticeship Week 2019 #BlazeATrail campaign, promoting apprenticeships nationwide.
74% of small businesses report that apprentices help to increase productivity and win new business. We would agree, and this is proven by the fact that apprentices have been a mainstay for Fairfields since 2000. With just over 50 staff, our work requires a team of highly-skilled engineers. Apprenticeships are key to maintaining and developing this expertise, with 40% of Fairfields’ workforce made up of those who have undertaken an apprenticeship.
On Monday 4th March 2019, Day One of National Apprenticeship Week 2019 Emma Roberts one of our Applications Engineers and former apprentices took part in The Big Assembly. The Big Assembly is the biggest careers webinar and this year it was in the hands of apprentices. The Big Assembly was live video streamed to thousands of students across the UK wanting to find out what an apprenticeship could mean for them. Last year over 20,000 students watched The Big Assembly, with this year’s numbers expecting to exceed that. Emma was a main speaker at the event and she told students about how to apply for an apprenticeship, what the process is like and what it’s like to be an apprentice by sharing her story. Click to find out more about Emma’s apprenticeship journey.
On Tuesday 5th March 2019, Day Two we highlighted the apprenticeship journey of one our latest Apprentices to join the company. Heather Bonnyman joined the company in 2018, she is our first Apprentice to join the Admin Department and is currently completing a Chartered Manager Degree at Sheffield Hallam University.

Heather National Apprenticeship Week 2019
Read more about Heather’s apprenticeship story: Apprentice Case Study – Heather Bonnyman
Heather Bonnyman, Business Administration Apprentice at Fairfields says:
Apprenticeships are an excellent way of combining both education and work experience. Implementing what you have learnt straight away into the workplace helps you impact and grow with your company.
On Wednesday 6th March 2019, Day Three we focused on bringing together all the generations of Apprentices within Fairfields from old to new. Currently 21 members of our staff are Apprentices or former Apprentices including our Managing Director Michael Doney who started in 2003. Our very first apprentice Ben Searson started in 2000 and is now a Lead Design Engineer and Mentoring Champion. As our Mentoring Champion, Ben is responsible for all of Fairfield’s Mentors and as a team they work together to ensure that our Apprentices are getting the training and support they need throughout their Apprenticeship.

Fairfields Past and Present Apprentices 2019
On Thursday 9th March, Day Four Emma was invited to the House of Commons for an Apprenticeships, Skills and Careers for the future event. Emma is a Young Apprentice Ambassador for the National Apprenticeship Service and as part of this role she takes part in various events across the UK to inspire others with her apprenticeship story. The House of Commons event brought together a select few of the Ambassadors from each region to reward and celebrate their hard work and discuss the future of Apprenticeships.
On Friday 8th March 2019, Day Five we highlighted another one of our current Apprentices. Jon Ardron also joined the company in 2018, he is undertaking a HNC in Electrical Engineering.

Jon National Apprenticeship Week 2019
Read more about Jon’s apprenticeship story: Apprentice Case Study – Jon Ardron
Jon Ardron, Apprentice Engineer at Fairfields says:
Apprenticeships require a greater level of maturity and commitment compared to some of the alternative pathways. I believe this helps make you more attractive to prospective employers.
In order to recruit good quality, enthusiastic apprentices, we regularly attend open days, engineering and recruitment fairs and frequently present at local schools and colleges. We also offer summer placements to students in order to give them an insight into the business before applying to the apprenticeship programme.
To find out more about Apprenticeships or to get involved with the National Apprenticeship Week #BlazeATrail campaign visit: https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/