Geoff Hall MD, Goes Back to the Floor

Abacus Academy celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

Nottingham: February 2010 - Abacus Lighting has a long history of successful Apprenticeships. Indeed, current Managing Director, Geoff Hall, joined the company as a 15 year old apprentice over 50 years ago!

To help celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Geoff will be donning his overalls and going "back to the floor" for the day as he joins the latest tranche of Abacus apprentices on the factory floor.

National Apprenticeship Week, organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, aims to raise the profile of Apprenticeships and encourage more employers to take on apprentices. This year, the week coincides with the launch of the new ’Abacus Academy’ which recognises the company’s commitment to training and a career-long development. The ’Academy’ will not only encompass the apprentice programme, but any training delivered across the business. The ’Academy’ will also offer CPD training to members of the wider lighting industry.

Geoff said: "We’ve taken on apprentices throughout our 50 year history and they’ve been an invaluable asset to company growth. Employing apprentices ensures a ’home-grown" workforce who are continually developed and supported. This improves retention and loyalty. Indeed, we have a number of former apprentices still with us after 20 or 30 years and I believe they have been an invaluable part of the company’s development, growth and success."

Joining Geoff for the morning will be Karen Woodward, Regional Director of Apprenticeships, East Midlands, Learning and Skills Council. She said: "Abacus is a fine example of how Apprenticeships can really help a business improve the skills levels of their workforce and benefit from improved productivity and motivated employees. And, with relevant training support especially designed by businesses in each sector to meet a company’s specific needs, Apprenticeships are a great investment for a successful future."

Geoff and Karen will be spending time with new apprentice recruits Thomas Ellson and Dominic Witton as well as catching up with the progress of previous apprentices young and old!