Peterborough firm praises apprentices as ‘crucial’ to success

Evolving Networks, based in Peterborough, was speaking ahead of National Apprenticeships Week.

The software company has worked with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to encourage more people into the workplace.

The authority said there were many advantages to the “earn and learn” route into work.

The Growth Works with Skills programme, which is run by the local authority, has supported employers to navigate apprenticeships. It offers funding and support for businesses to help them connect apprenticeships to their plans for growth.

Evolving Networks, which provides internet services to other businesses, said the impact of apprenticeships has been transformative. Half of its senior management board were former apprentices.

The number includes the company’s general manager, Ben Wright, and Amber Roberts, who is head of people and culture. Both chose to start their apprenticeships as teenagers, instead of following a more common path to college or university.

Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, which starts on 5 February, Mr Wright said: “It gave me a great platform to leverage skills I didn’t even know I had. I’ve really grown as a person over the last 11 years. I owe that all to the apprenticeship and getting that variety of experience from day one.”

Ms Roberts said: “Apprenticeships weren’t really spoken much about at school, and I initially thought they were a little bit old fashioned, but I quickly learned that wasn’t the case.

“I started my apprenticeship at 17 in accounts and I then moved to a management apprenticeship and was given a seat on the board, which I feel is a great achievement in the tech industry which is typically quite male dominated.”

Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, the chair of Skills Committee at the combined authority, said: “Ben and Amber’s example exactly shows how apprenticeships can change lives, while also supporting growth of our businesses.

“That’s why the combined authority is working with employers and individuals to increase the number of apprentices across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”