A variety of apprenticeships offered in partnership with Bournville College, including those in logistics operations management, customer service, business administration and management enabled 25 employees at DHL Freight in Dunstable to learn new skills closely related to their day-to-day work.

DHL Freight staff and managers were in support of apprenticeships from day one. They embraced the scheme at every level and where they were unable to offer an apprenticeship, they opted for an NVQ in a relevant subject, again with the aid from Bournville College.

Cathy Kirk, customer services manager at DHL Freight, has been influential in ensuring that appropriate training was available to office staff based at Dunstable depot. She said: “Apprenticeships are an excellent idea! They enable us to shape up the skills of our employees in the way that suits our business.

“Apprenticeships don’t only lead to nationally recognised qualifications they also help apprentices build their confidence and serve as a proof of knowledge that they can do their job. All in all, skilled employees help to raise standards within a company itself and so I’d encourage more employers to sign up for apprenticeships.”

Laura Freeman, aged 21 from Dunstable, works as a freight agent and is one of those undertaking training in the area of logistics operations management.