What a year! 2024 really has been amazing and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve in 2025!
Our Top 3 Moments
#1 Ofsted 2024 - Good Accreditation
We had our first Ofsted inspection since 2017 back in February – where in March we were incredibly proud to be accredited with “Good” status. With the length of time since the last inspection, along with Covid and other challenges that it brought to independent training providers, we were pleased to get official confirmation that the standard of training we provided was continuously of a high standard.
#2 On the Tools Awards
When we were shortlisted as a finalist for Training Initiative of the Year at the On The Tools Awards 2024 we were thrilled. When we actually won, we were ecstatic!!!
The awards were amazing for our training team to get the recognition they deserve for the fantastic training they give all year round.
It is quite something to be able to say we officially give award winning training!
#3 London Red Bull Soap Box Race
If we needed testimony that a WEBS apprenticeship really does go above and beyond, our participation in the London Red Bull Soap Box Race was just that!
Working with engineering apprentices at NC Group, who built the racing frame, apprentices at WEBS recreated the iconic Simpsons sofa to race down the track at Ally Pally. It was a great collaboration between our timber trades and upholstery apprentices and all we can say is… what an incredible experience for all involved!!!
It still seems so surreal that we can say WEBS has been part of the Red Bull Soap Box Race – WOW!
Other key moments
Makita Sponsorship
Makita UK started supporting us in January with their Be Safe campaign, where they came into the centre and delivered specialist safety training with their tools. This developed in to Power Tools weeks, periodically giving apprentices chance to try the newest tools available, and other tools they may not get chance to use in their workplace. Makita’s support hasn’t stopped there, with their donation of multiple tools in October to the centre. We look forward to continuing our relationship in 2025!
Apprentice Award Nominations
2024 had two apprentices receiving accolades for their work – Daniel Mee and Max Shortland.
Daniel Mee, a Level 2 Floorlayer apprentice of Hillside Contracts, was nominated for Contract Flooring Association’s (CFA) Flooring Apprentice of the Year. He achieved an impressive third place overall and was highly commended for his work completed – which should serve him well in his career now that he has completed his apprenticeship.
Max Shortland, a Level 3 Bespoke Furniture Maker of Gordon Ellis & Co., was nominated in the regional finals in Make UK’s awards for Rising Star for apprentices starting out in their career. The competition was very tough against huge engineering names so Max’ achievement as the only furniture maker in his regional final really is fantastic.
We have recently found out that two of our Wickes leaners have been nominated in the BiKKBI awards – a fabulous thing to learn for the end of the year – hopefully in 2025 we will be able to report them as winners!
Shows
We were a part of some key industry events in 2024 - Harrogate Flooring Show with FITA, and Autumn Long Point.
Harrogate Flooring Show gave us chance to see the latest products and materials in the floorlaying industry, along with seeing first hand fantastic training demonstrations by the team at FITA. It was great to talk with employers and we look forward to welcoming new floorlayers onto our course in the new year.
Long Point was great to be a part of as an associated member of the Long Eaton Guild of Upholsterers, which gave us opportunity to speak to local suppliers and manufacturers about the trade. We are looking to expand our work with the guild in 2025 to help promote the industry locally, so it is important to understand what is important to employers. Here we also met Big Furniture Group which then led us to have the opportunity to be featured and share our thoughts on the world of apprenticeships.
We also attended the Young Furniture Makers exhibition and NBF The Bed Show, which gave us the opportunity to see what is new in the bed industry, along with seeing design work of the future with the fantastic submissions from new furniture makers in the industry. These both were great inspirations for what we can do to continue to develop our training offer.
Apprenticeship update
Our Level 2 Floorlayer and Level 2 Fitted Interiors Installer courses have been more successful than ever, with 5 cohorts of apprentices for our installation course starting and 3 cohorts for floorlaying. We already have two cohorts of Level 2 Floorlayer apprenticeships planned based on the success of this year.
Our partnership with Wickes as their training provider has gone from strength to strength, with their kitchen installation programme expanding into also offering a separate bathroom installation programme where the first bathroom apprentices will be completing in 2025.
And we haven’t slowed down for the end of the year with a whopping 27 end point assessments in December, with 20 of these being Wickes apprentices ready for their graduation event in January. Good luck to everyone who has had their assessment!
A Big Thank You
Firstly, a huge thank you to our employers who entrust us to train their apprentices. Without you, we would not be able to train.
Secondly, a thank you to all of our apprentices who chose a WEBS apprenticeship, starting out in their new chosen career, and working really hard to learn these new skills.
And finally, a heartfelt thank you to all of our team at WEBS. The commitment and dedication given by the team is incredible. They are always looking for ways to improve our training and provide the best possible experience for anyone learning with us.
