Reece is growing with our company
AFTER leaving school at 16 Reece Garland thought attending college was the next natural step.
But after achieving an A-level in business studies, the Knowle teenager felt he was floundering.
-
Reece Garland, 17, is doing an apprenticeship at Bristol Blue Glass in association with City of Bristol College. Picture: Michael Lloyd BRML2013031 1E-001
He had no idea what he wanted to do next and felt bogged down by theory and written work.
Reece wanted to do something more practical and began by looking on apprentices.org.uk, where his attention was caught by a one-year warehouse and storage apprenticeship run by the City of Bristol College.
Looking to save a small fortune on your flat roof?
Claim this voucher today and give one of our adviser's a call on:
0800 644 6323
Terms: Terms & Conditions Apply.
Contact: 0800 6446323
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
He had heard of the well-known city company it was run with – Bristol Blue Glass – and once he asked his family more he realised what a great reputation it had.
He attended an interview and began work on December 3 last year.
His official job title is logistics assistant but Reece, now 17, has already been given experience in a huge array of jobs at the firm.
As well as looking after orders, Reece also packs and answers the phone and helps out with customer liaisons.
The hard worker has even been given the chance to blow some glass – a skill that he is keen to work on.
Reece, who lives in Camberley Road, told The Post: "I am absolutely loving my apprenticeship so far.
"I think it's a great idea because you can learn as well as getting a nice wage at the same time.
"When I first saw the advert on the website I asked my family about Bristol Blue Glass and found out what a wonderful and respected company it was.
"I was really excited to start work here and it's been great so far."
Reece works at Bristol Blue Glass in Whitby Road, Brislington, from Tuesday to Friday, while on Monday he has the chance to attend a college course in GCSE maths, to improve his previous D grade to a C grade or above.
A tutor visits him at the firm and assesses him while he is working.
"When I left my school, which was then called Hartcliffe Engineering College, I thought the obvious next step was to do A-levels," he said.
"I got an A-level in business but my heart wasn't in it – I didn't know what I wanted to do.
"I had wanted to do photography but there weren't many opportunities in that field. I even considered a job in a Cash Generator shop before finding the apprenticeship.
"It has been so perfect because I now feel like I am doing something worthwhile and there are plenty of opportunities afterwards.
"One thing I'd really like to do in the future is more glass blowing, as I think it's a wonderful skill to have."
Sharon Crapanzano, marketing, promotions and customer care manager at Bristol Blue Glass, told The Post: "Reece is flourishing – he is mature and gets on with everyone really well but is also like a sponge.
"He picks things up really quickly and has no pre-conceived ideas about how things should be done, he is growing with the company.
"Bristol Blue Glass is not your normal every day job so it's great that he's flexible and willing to do lots of different things.
"We are really pleased we took him on and hope that he continues to flourish."
Comments