At 3aaa we work closely with our Employers to ensure that we thoroughly understand the needs of their business and ultimately find them the right Apprentices to help them transform their business.
Castus Design, a Web Design company from Rotherham approached 3aaa after identifying the need for an Apprentice Web Planner within their company.
Chris Harpin Managing Director – Castus Design
“I view 3aaa and Castus as a partner relationship rather than supplier and customer. This is integral to the success of my business through the Apprentices that we appoint and for the benefit of the Apprentices themselves.
The team at the 3aaa Sheffield Academy understand my agency, what we need and what we can offer. This ensures that only suitable applicants are put forwards and our current Apprentice, Alex Bellis is a shining example of everything that is positive about an Apprenticeship.
In a short space of time Alex has got to grips with her job role to the extent that I enquired to see if it was possible to fast track her program, sadly this isn’t possible due toqualification guided learning hours.
The skills that Alex learnt during her academic time combined with on the job training have placed her in a great position for a fruitful career in the digital industry, I expect to see her career overtake mine over the coming years.
Business growth has not been as scalable as I would have liked over recent years due to a shortfall in digital talent. Market places such as Leeds and Nottingham generally pay inflated salaries compared to what is available in South Yorkshire tempting many people away from our catchment area.
Working in partnership with 3aaa is allowing us to build a team that will support our clients for years to come.”
Alex Bellis – Apprentice
“As I have always been keen to pursue a career within IT, I jumped at the chance to enrol with the 3aaa Academy after hearing great things about them as a training provider. I had my initial interview at the academy with Lisa and Caroline back in June 2014, and once my place was accepted onto the course I was then set up for an interview with a local Web Design company called Castus who were looking to appoint a Web Planner to join their team. I was successful in the interview and was offered the position to start in 2 weeks’ time, as I was due to start at the Academy the following Monday.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at 3aaa as I believe I learnt a lot which would help me progress my career in IT. The staff and tutors were really easy to work with which made it a nice environment to be in. As I have now finished the Technical Certificate part of my NVQ after studying one week at the academy and one week at my workplace for 11 weeks, I am now solely in my workplace where I receive regular visits from my Assessor Cat Thomson every month to help me progress with the rest of my qualification. I find this a good way of learning as I am still able to manage my workload at Castus while allowing myself time each week to complete some of my units for Cat in preparation for her assessment visits, receiving any input I need from my colleagues also.
I am extremely glad to have been given this opportunity with 3aaa, as I have received so much help throughout the time I have been there and I don’t think I would be anywhere near the stage I am at now in my career without them. They have guided me along the way and assisted me in my qualification as well as finding me a fantastic company to work for.”
Caroline Walton (Recruitment Executive at the Sheffield Academy)
“I have been working with Chris and the team at Castus since October 2013 and I have a good idea of the kind of Apprentice they are looking for as we had already placed two Apprentices with them previously.
After a conversation with Chris about a new role he was hoping to develop within the company to help Castus grow and expand, I was invited by Lisa Taylor to sit in on a candidate interview to help me understand the role of Apprentice intake better.
The candidate we interviewed was Alex Bellis who had all the qualities Chris was looking for in an Apprentice Web Planner, the new role in which he was developing. After the interview I rang Chris and explained I had just sat in on an interview with a candidate who I felt would fit his new role perfectly, he then asked me to set up an interview with her two days later purely on what I had told him about Alex.
Alex was interviewed and Chris called me straight after and offered her the position with a start date as soon as possible.”