Steel firm Carrs aims to sustain growth by building up skills base

A BLACK Country steel firm is aiming to sustain its success by building up its skills base.

Encouraging younger people to develop their skills levels and work in the steel stockholding industry has been a key driver in the development of Tipton-based Carrs Tool Steels.

The business is run by company director Julie Shields and business partner Andrew Eastwood. Ms Shields, who started out at the firm 20 years ago, has actively encouraged new apprenticeship.

After forming a new partnership with The Apprenticeship Works, the firm has taken on a number of new apprentices.

The Apprenticeship Works, which has its office in West Bromwich, acts as a broker and is one of only 13 government-backed brokerage schemes in the country.
 
“When Andrew and I took over the running of the business four years ago we saw the real need to develop a younger workforce who could learn valuable skills from our existing staff,” she said.
 
“I firmly believe we have a responsibility as employers to not only bring younger people into the industry but to also equip them with the right skills. Here at Carrs we have developed a skills matrix so that we ensure the right skills and levels of skill mix in our employees.”    

Among the latest to join the 30-strong workforce is 22-year-old Hadyn Johnson.

He said: “I left school at 16 and got a job at a butchers where I worked until being made redundant earlier this year.

“I got in touch with The Apprenticeship Works who were really helpful and who found this apprenticeship for me. I am now learning new skills and will get NVQ Level two qualifications in warehousing and distribution and hopefully a full time job at the end of it.”
   
“The Apprenticeship Works model is great for us because it means we can offer real work to young people without being burdened by paperwork that goes with it. We hope at the end of the apprenticeship we will be able to offer Hadyn a job and invest in the future of our business,” said Ms Shields.

Chris Luty, director at sister company BCTG which established The Apprenticeship Works, said: “Unlike traditional skills and recruitment agencies The Apprenticeship Works provides a highly cost effective, flexible way of recruiting temporary and full time employees.”