HMG Paints celebrates successful National Apprenticeship Week

HMG Paints has marked National Apprenticeship Week 2023 with a celebration of a number of colleagues at various stages of their Apprenticeship journeys.

The Manchester-based manufacturer has been a long-term advocate of apprenticeships and developing its own staff and allowing them to develop careers within HMG. This is highlighted with current Chief Operating Office Steve Crossman, who joined HMG as an 18-year-old apprentice himself.

The business employs a number of apprentices across the business in roles ranging from paint production, laboratory and logistics to office-based roles. One of the newer apprentices just starting her journey is Gabby Parfitt who joined HMG in 2021 as a member of the Print Room. Gaby is undertaking a level 3 apprenticeship. The 16-month course will provide her with a Level 3 business administrator qualification.

"I like doing my course at HMG because it gives me further education while working. HMG also provides time and a quiet space to do my apprenticeship work and participate in online lessons” said Gabby "My apprenticeship has taught me how to manage my time and set priorities for tasks that are urgent and non-urgent and helping create healthy habits. The 4D’s (delete, defer, delegate and do it) helped me with this.”

At the other end of the journey is Shannon Williams, who completed her Degree Level Apprenticeship in Business Management (Chartered Manager) in 2022 and achieved an Upper Second-Class Honours and has since been promoted to Product Manager.

On her apprenticeship journey Shannon commented, "The Degree Apprenticeship helped to develop my skills and knowledge of business through a wide range of subjects and management processes. These skills have helped with my new role as Product Manager. HMG provided me with the support and time needed throughout to enable me to complete the degree”.

HMG Paints COO Steve Crossman, is proud of the ongoing success of the apprenticeship scheme: "We’re pleased to support our staff in developing themselves professionally and personally and the apprenticeships are the perfect way to gain academic knowledge and real-life experience. We have a number of staff who have been here for decades with a wealth of knowledge and we’ve found combining that with the learning providers is a perfect way to bring numerous advantages to HMG.”

One of the common misconceptions of apprenticeships is that they are for early career journeys, however HMG also employ apprentices who are undertaking Level 7 qualifications. Once such employee is Lewis Whalen who is currently studying for his CIMA Level 7 Professional Accounting Technician qualification. Once Lewis completes his three-year apprenticeship course, he will be a qualified Management Accountant – ACMA (Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants). "Completing my CIMA qualification whilst at HMG means I can apply some of my learning in the workplace and I have a better understanding of some modules due to the exposure and experience I have within HMG. It is an ideal way to combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge” Lewis added.

As a Made in Britain accredited manufacturer, HMG offers a number of colour career choices. The nature and variety of HMG’s customer base & product portfolio means that there is a broad range of roles and opportunities within the company from apprentice and graduate opportunities in production and operations to roles for experienced chemists within the Laboratory. These roles include technical positions such as paint technologists, research & development chemists and colour specialists with one eye on a sustainable, net zero future. Believe it or not the company even has roles that require watching paint dry.