As a passionate advocate for apprenticeships, taking on their first apprentices back in 2013, Oakland International, a total supply chain solutions provider, is celebrating their five latest apprenticeship recruits and highlighting why we should all mark National Apprenticeship Week (10th to 16th February).

National Apprenticeship Week is designed to bring together all supporters of apprenticeships and help them celebrate the value and many benefits and opportunities they bring.

Joining the Oakland Apprentice team are Alex Wheate and James Smith as finance and accounts apprentices. Patrick Giordan has recently moved from their warehousing team into IT and has commenced his level 3 ICT – Information Communications Technician. Previously Christian Stokes now a management accountant and Jordan Rollins now a Strategic Network Planner, originally joined Oakland International on the apprenticeship scheme.

Head of Talent Development Kate Hewitt, having worked at Oakland for seven years, is now undertaking a Level 5 coaching qualification funded by the Apprenticeship Levy and equivalent to a foundation degree or HND. Jenniffer Burns joined Oakland International in 2024 and has recently been promoted to Junior HR Business Partner and is about to embark on her Level 3 in People Practice which will lead her onto completing her Level 5 CIPD qualification also funded by the Levy.

Said Kate: “National Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to develop and progress careers as each apprentice receives quality training at the same time as earning a wage, and with the variety of course options available they are an amazing way to learn new skills, with every day a school day.”

Oakland’s apprentices work in a range of departments and settings from finance, IT, to HR and Finance, with the company’s aim to debunk the lack of understanding that surround apprenticeship qualifications as only for the young, and instead promote the many opportunities they bring to both apprentice and employer.

Added Kate: “National Apprenticeships have a huge part to play in a business succession planning, with our finance and IT teams having already benefitted over the years from apprenticeships, supporting team members from initial foundation training stage and continued personal development, through to career progression and organisational and developmental growth.

“Oakland believes whole heartedly in the value apprenticeships bring and the difference they can make to both individuals and organisations alike. Apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers but for everyone, at any age, as gaining valuable skills that add value to a business, build and expand professional networks, also helps to increase personal confidence and delivers new and exciting opportunities.

“We are now in the early stages of developing a Driver Apprenticeship in our Distribution business, so watch this space, or for more information about this initiative please email our team: lgvaprrenticeship2025@oakland-international.com”

Oakland International is a Certified B Corporation and an equal opportunities employer and sustainable business with an environmental and social conscience. A total supply chain solutions specialist, and a leader in direct to consumer, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering and brand development support for all types of food, servicing diverse markets across the UK and Ireland, the company is also an expert in saving food and non-food products from going to waste via their distress load management service and aim to be the first business within their sector to reach net zero.