Domino Printing celebrates National Apprenticeship Week
February 17, 2021
A Cambridge company is marking this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from 8th-14th February, by paying tribute to its Apprentices.
Headquartered at Bar Hill, Domino Printing is a leading global manufacturer of industrial coding, marking, and digital printing technology and now in its sixth year of running a structured Apprenticeship Scheme which recruits new entrants annually.
Since it was established, Domino’s Scheme has taken on a total of 19 recruits across different areas of the business, all now reaping the rewards of a structured programme which offers real-life experience in the workplace combined with developing academic and vocational skills.
Later this year, it will be launching its 2021 Scheme, with opportunities in different areas of the company.
Harry Grimwood, who joined Domino as an Apprentice in R&D two years ago, is now studying for a Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Hertfordshire in tandem with his role at the company.
Harry said: “Re-starting your career at 23 can be a daunting prospect for anyone, but I am so thankful for the opportunity Domino has given me to gain a wide and diverse view of the field of engineering and explore what I want to do.
“Also, being fully supported in my studies has allowed me time and flexibility, enabling me to achieve good results and progress my academic studies further than I ever thought possible.”
Emma Day is a Supply Chain Apprentice who joined the Scheme in 2017. After starting out in the Materials Control department, she spent her second year in Purchasing and is currently in Group Customer Experience.
She said: “If I was to give some advice to anyone considering their next step after sixth form, I’d say don’t feel pressured to go to university. I’m so glad that I came to Domino to do an apprenticeship even though I had university offers because now I’m getting a degree, real experience and I’m earning. I wouldn’t have been able to move into my first home while being at university – an apprenticeship has allowed me to save and do that.”
The value of the Apprenticeship Scheme is endorsed at all levels of the business including Robert Pulford, CEO who started his own career in an apprenticeship role.
He said: “I didn’t really plan to follow the apprenticeship route as a first step after school, it was more a steer from friends and family.
“I’ve subsequently completed further formal qualifications through my career, and feel that becoming CEO was a result of some hard work, commitment, and some good luck. I’m convinced though, that being an apprentice helped shape me in being both ‘rounded’ and ‘grounded’ in my outlook to life, and business. There is no right or wrong, and I’d say progress is more about attitude than qualification, but I’d have no hesitation in recommending the apprenticeship route as a path to those considering it.”
Over the years, Domino has won several accolades for its Apprenticeship Scheme including being named one of the Employers of the Year by Cambridge Regional College and also Highly Commended for the Large Employer of the Year Award in the EEF Apprenticeship National Awards.
National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England and a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country. Since it was established 14 years ago, it has brought together apprenticeship supporters with MPs, ambassadors, apprentices, training providers and top employers involved in recognising the value and importance of apprenticeships.