Investing in Skills and Opportunity: Apprenticeship Experience

At CLC, apprenticeships are more than just a stepping stone into a career, they’re a chance to earn while learning, gain hands-experience, and develop skills that will last a lifetime.

Meet Richie Goddard, a first-year Painting and Decorating apprentice based at CLC’s Watford branch. Inspired by relatives in the trade, Richie decided to pursue an apprenticeship with CLC to turn his passion for painting into a career.

Questions

1.Can you tell me a bit about yourself and why you decided to do a CLC apprenticeship?

I decided to go ahead with this CLC apprenticeship, because I was highly interested in painting. I have relatives who are in the trade, and I had shadowed them a few times, which really inspired me to pursue it.

2. How do you feel you’ve grown personally and professionally since starting at CLC?

From the start of my apprenticeship to now, I feel like I have improved all my skills, not just in painting. I have developed skills such as teamwork and learning to work effectively with others.

3. How do you balance hands-on work with classroom learning?

I go to work four days a week, and on the other day I go to college to learn in a classroom. This helps me understand all the written aspects of the job, such as health and safety.

4. Are there any mentors or team members who have had a significant impact on your learning?

I have been working closely with one of my colleagues, Tony Reid (who has been with CLC for 23 years). He has taught me a lot, and I have been shadowing him and following in his footsteps.

5. What’s the biggest advantage of being an apprentice?

The biggest advantage of being an apprentice is that you not only learning every day but also working and earning an income. For me, this provides motivation on days when I don’t feel like working or learning.

6. How has earning while learning benefited you personally?

Earning while learning gives me motivation and a sense of independence, which helps me stay committed to both work and study.

7. What skills are you excited to develop further during your apprenticeship?

I look forward to learning more decorating skills, for example, wallpapering. I am also excited to eventually work completely independently.

8. How would you describe the company culture in three words?

Organised, innovative, and supportive.

9. What has been the most unexpected or interesting part of the job?

The most interesting part has been how well I get along with other colleagues, who are often older than me. This has helped me learn from them and mature personally.

10. How would you describe CLC as a company to someone thinking about joining the team?

CLC is very supportive and understanding. I would highly recommend going ahead with an apprenticeship with them.

11. What advice would you give to a new apprentice?

Take as much advice as possible from the people around you, both on-site and in the classroom. Your colleagues are likely to be older and more experienced, so learning from them will really help your growth.