Investing In Early Career Apprenticeships for Lifelong Success and Satisfaction in the Workplace

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to build a CV that showcases that an individual has that all important experience in the modern working world. Meanwhile, for the employer the rewards of running an apprenticeship programme are many. It provides access to a rich and diverse talent pool of motivated people that want to learn and progress. This has never been more important, especially in sectors where skills shortages are impeding productivity.
 
Konica Minolta’s approach to career development is providing a blueprint for other organisations to follow. This nationwide programme has been developed to attract people from different walks and stages of life, to provide them with opportunities to flourish and provide a clear career path that retains them within the business, as part of an ongoing programme of progression.
 
The programme includes Early Careers Business Professional apprenticeships designed for school and college leavers to kickstart their careers, develop skills and make an impact. It is complemented by an initiative for existing employees to develop their skills further in a specific area, or to transition into another part of the business, as well as a scheme for fulfilling junior level vacancies.
 
Holly Brown is one of the eight million who used the Find an Apprenticeship website, and is today an Employee Experience Coordinator at Konica Minolta, having achieved a CIPD Level 3 in HR Support.

Holly adds: “I am so glad that I did it. I don’t think I would be where I am today without doing my apprenticeship. My tutor was brilliant as well! My apprenticeship has allowed me to progress within HR into other areas such as Employee Experience and should I need to do my Level 5 one day, this was a great stepping stone in that direction!”
 
Completing her training during the pandemic was made easier by Konica Minolta’s approach to Choice-Based Working. It is a policy ingrained in the culture of the company that continues to help many employees to achieve the work life balance that is right for them and their families, whilst enabling Konica Minolta to be unlimited by location and recruit from communities throughout the UK.
 
The experience of Holly is echoed by Louise Moran, now an Account Manager-Public Sector at Konica Minolta, having completed an 18-month apprenticeship in July 2021. “Having previously worked in administrative roles, I wanted to expand my knowledge and career in sales. I felt doing an apprenticeship would be the best way forward, as it would give me the relevant training and support, I needed to succeed.” 
 
Commenting on her experience, Louise says: “The apprenticeship was brilliant, I received one-to-one support from my mentor as well as lots of internal support to help when I needed it. I feel like sales can be a tough environment, so doing the course really set me up to have a deeper understanding of it, learning new skills and putting them into practice in environments out of my comfort zone.”
 
Louise is thriving in her new role and the skills she has developed around Konica Minolta’s focus on customer centricity is proving invaluable for customers, the company and Louise, who has won a top performer award. Similarly, Konica Minolta itself has been recognised for its exceptional employee offerings with a sixth consecutive certification by the Top Employers Institute.
 
However, the company’s commitment to its people stretches back much further and this year Konica Minolta is celebrating its 150^th anniversary. As the President of Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, Kiyotaka Suhara, says: “It is the creativity, ingenuity, and adaptability of all of the people, past, present and future, whether employees, partners and customers that has made Konica Minolta the brand it is today and will be tomorrow.”
 
Choosing a career path can be a daunting prospect and many on the cusp of leaving school or college can be unaware of opportunities that did not exist only several years ago, as the pace of technology innovation continues unabated. This is the reason the company supports work such as the Tameside HACK – an annual coding competition run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, in Greater Manchester, that helps and encourages 11–18-year-olds to discover and explore the wide array of career trajectories in the digital world.
 
Today, Konica Minolta apprentices are working towards qualifications ranging from NVQ level three to seven in areas such as Data Insights, technical, HR, Accountancy, Project Management and Business Analysis. They are part of a 600-strong team, with everyone playing their part in transforming the future of the workplace.
 
To find out more about how you can shape and progress your own future with Konica Minolta visit our careers page: Konica Minolta UK Careers