Training & Development

How Woodland Group is building its future workforce through apprenticeships

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Overview

Since 2018, we have worked alongside Woodland Group to help strengthen its workforce through apprenticeships, supporting both the recruitment of new talent and the development of existing employees.

Through apprenticeship programmes including Business Administration, Customer Service and Team Leadership, Woodland Group has been able to build skills across its workforce while creating clear opportunities for people to learn, progress and take on greater responsibility.

The challenge

Like many businesses operating within logistics and supply chain, Woodland Group recognised the challenges presented by an ageing workforce and the need to attract a new generation of talent into the sector.

As demand for skilled employees continued to grow, the business wanted to develop a sustainable talent pipeline that could support its future growth.

Woodland Group also wanted to make better use of its apprenticeship levy – not simply as a way of recruiting new people, but as an opportunity to develop existing employees and address skills gaps across the organisation.

Richard Lissimore-Hird, People Development and Culture Manager at Woodland Group, explained that recruiting experienced employees can sometimes mean bringing established working practices and expectations with them.

Apprenticeships offered a different approach: an opportunity to develop people within the culture and values of Woodland Group from the beginning of their careers.

Key metrics

6 +

years working together

Apprenticeships completed

100 %

retention following successful apprenticeship completion

Most apprentices

remain with Woodland Group for at least 12 months after completing their programme

The solution

Working closely with Woodland Group, we helped the business make effective use of its apprenticeship levy while developing programmes that could respond directly to its workforce needs.

Apprenticeships provided a structured route for bringing new people into the organisation while helping Woodland Group reduce some of the costs associated with traditional recruitment.

For Richard, one of the biggest benefits has been the quality and retention of the people joining the business through apprenticeships.

“One thing we pride ourselves on is retaining 100% of apprentices who successfully complete their training, which means less time spent on recruitment.”

The approach has also become increasingly embedded within Woodland Group's wider culture.

Apprenticeships aren't limited to school leavers. Woodland Group has seen people at different stages of their lives benefit, including parents returning to employment after raising a family.

This reflects the organisation's family-focused culture and its commitment to helping people develop and succeed.

Creating a pipeline for future talent

The benefits extend beyond filling today's vacancies.

By developing people within the organisation, Woodland Group is creating a pipeline of skilled employees who understand the business and can take on additional responsibilities as the company grows.

Apprentices receive salaries above the apprenticeship minimum wage, with opportunities for performance-related increases as they progress. By around 18 months, apprentices will typically be fully trained and earning the standard rate for their department, according to their age.

For Woodland Group, this creates a sustainable approach to workforce planning – attracting people with the right attitude, developing their skills and giving them opportunities to build long-term careers.

“We now have people in roles that we know will be able to develop and take on more responsibility as the business grows, which gives us confidence moving forward.”

A partnership built around continuous improvement

Our relationship with Woodland Group has developed over a number of years, with collaboration, feedback and responsiveness playing an important part in its success.

By listening to what the business and its apprentices need, we have continued to develop the support we provide.

As Richard puts it:

“We’ve been really pleased with the positive improvements we’ve seen recently. Seetec has stepped up to make things easier for us and our apprentices.”

Could apprenticeships help you develop your future workforce?

Whether you want to attract new talent, develop existing employees or make better use of your apprenticeship funding, our team can help you identify the right approach for your business.

Speak to our apprenticeship team

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