A Manchester logistics firm is creating new employment opportunities to nurture the next generation of talented professionals as part of its plan to become a £25million turnover business in the next five years.
AKW Group - which provides extensive warehouse, transport, contract packing, freight forwarding and container freight and international freight movement services - has taken on an I.T. trainee and a business and administration apprentice at its Trafford Park head office.
Tomasz Skwara, 30, who lives in Ashton-on-Mersey, has started a three-month traineeship with AKW Group after completing a Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Enterprise Computing at Manchester College.
Tomasz is working within a three-man team providing a range of I.T. support to over 100 office staff at AKW's head office.
"My role with AKW gives me the opportunity to build on my I.T. qualification and gain valuable experience to help me gain employment," said Tomasz.
Kelsey O'Neill, 17, from Salford, has also started a nine month NVQ level 2 apprenticeship in business and administration with AKW Group, after completing her studies at Albion High School.
Kelsey will spend time working within various departments at AKW Group during her apprenticeship, offering support with customer service and office administration.
"This is my first full-time job after leaving school and I see it as a fantastic opportunity to gain the experience and qualifications I need to build a strong career for myself. My long term aim to become a manager or a PA and my apprenticeship with AKW is helping me to lay the foundations I need to achieve my goal," said Kelsey.
Both new roles at AKW Group were created in partnership with Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce's Skills Solutions scheme - which works with local businesses to create employment opportunities.
AKW Group's clients include Regatta, Procter and Gamble, Unilever, Diageo, Kelloggs, and L'Oreal.
The company has recently invested £2.5m in its warehousing, transport and contract packing infrastructure to create the platform for this growth.
The business has created the job opportunities as part of its plan is to expand the business to a £25million turnover within the next five years.
AKW also has plans to take on another business and administration apprentice in the coming weeks.
"As an ambitious company looking to grow we know the importance of long term planning and developing the next generation of talented people who will help ensure the company remains in a strong position in the future," said Tony Worthington, chairman and founder of AKW Group.
"I'm delighted that we have been able to create these two job opportunities and I hope we will be able to create even more trainee and apprenticeship roles in the near future."