Building Careers for the Future – and Beyond!

Young people are an incredible and often underutilised asset in shaping the future of our industries. And apprenticeships are a great way to support the start of their careers - teaching new skills, helping forge connections and offering real-world opportunities that otherwise may not be available.

 

This summer, Calisen were excited and proud to welcome three Smarter Energy Business Support Apprentices to the Group, with Oscar Woodcock joining us in IT, Tegan Dixon in Learning and Development, and Clayton Kay in Sustainability.

 

The three are with us for the next 21 months, with the potential to progress into future roles. They’ll be based at our brand-new Mill One offices - which opened their doors last month as part of the transformative Cotton Works development - and will work with colleagues right across the Group.

 

Their work will support the growth and development of the teams they’ve joined, which was a decision they each made based on their passions and motivations. In turn, their own progress will be supported by their new line managers.

 

The new apprentices were successful in a three-week training program devised and led by Calisen’s Learning and Development Manager, Kendra Walker, who wanted to further our connections with Wigan Youth Zone and Leigh College to look at ways of developing young talent.

 

The program gave eight young people from the Wigan and Leigh area the chance to engage in employability and customer service skills and in-house work experience at our Smarter Energy Training Academy. Those who weren't successful gained certification based on their development across these skills, and were offered additional help and guidance to support them in their onward journeys.

 

Commenting on our new additions, Kendra said:

 

“As part of our wider plan for developing young talent, we’re so excited to have Oscar, Tegan and Clayton join us. All are born and bred in Wigan and at the start of their careers, and the roles they’re taking on within the business across IT, Learning and Development and Sustainability will support their work towards their Business Administration apprenticeships.”

 

We asked Oscar, Tegan and Clayton how they've found their introduction to Calisen:

 

Oscar: "What I enjoy most about working at Calisen is the genuine support from colleagues and the sense of being valued in the workplace. It’s empowering to be part of a company that encourages growth - whether through business tasks or my apprenticeship. The culture here is built on hard work and kindness, and I’m proud to work alongside people I can learn from, support and be inspired by."

 

Tegan: “One of the things I’ve enjoyed most so far is the warm and genuine welcome I’ve received from everyone I’ve met. I really appreciate how willing people are to offer help or to point me towards someone who can if they can’t themselves. There’s such a strong sense of community here and I felt part of it right from the start. Every morning when I walk into the office, I’m greeted with waves, smiles and 'hellos.' As a new starter, that friendliness has been incredibly comforting and has made me feel truly at home at Calisen.”

 

Clayton: "Being an apprentice at Calisen has been a genuinely positive experience. Everyone is so open and kind - I’ve had more brews offered in the past few months than in my entire 21 years! The support has been amazing, and my personal approach to work has been valued and encouraged - which has made settling in really easy."

 

A big, warm Calisen welcome to our three new apprentices - we look forward to all your contributions and achievements to come!