Teenager secures apprenticeship after appearing in local press

Tuesday 26 June 2012 0:00

A 17-year-old who showed great initiative by making himself the subject of a local press story has secured an apprenticeship with Grimsby based carpet business IMS Floor Store.

National training provider Intraining was already helping the carpet business, based on Freeman Street in Grimsby, with its recruitment process to identify a suitable candidate for a warehouse apprenticeship when Aron Finch’s story was spotted in the Grimsby Telegraph.

Aron, who achieved nine GCSE’s at Healing School in Grimsby, said: “I wanted to find myself a job in a warehouse environment so I could get the right experience to progress but I didn’t know how, so I put an advert up in the building of the Grimsby Telegraph highlighting my details including skills, what I was looking for, a photograph and how to get in contact. 

“I found a public notice board next to a photocopier in the corridor of the building and shortly after requesting permission to put it there a reporter from the Grimsby Telegraph called me and featured my story with a number of other people looking for work.

 “I wanted to get stuck in to a hands-on role so I could gain enough experience to progress quickly in the workplace.” 

Aron’s story was spotted by Intraining staff who were impressed enough with his initiative to ask him to come in to their offices for an interview process they were engaged with for a local employer.

 Rob Draper, an Intraining Employer Engagement Consultant, said: “The Intraining staff here in Grimsby were all very impressed with Aron’s presence of mind and we were aware of a suitable apprenticeship vacancy so he was invited to join the recruitment process.” 

Intraining was shortlisting for a candidate to begin a Warehouse and Distribution Apprenticeship at the 27,000sqft retail and storage space at IMS Floor Store which also houses CarpetRunnersUK.com run by Myles Shaw.  

Myles said: “Intraining has been very professional and proactive in helping me find the right person to be our first warehouse apprentice. They conducted their own interviews before presenting me with a shortlist of five.

“Aron arrived suited and booted with a portfolio highlighting some of his previous achievements and singled himself out as having the right spark and since starting work he has not disappointed.” 

Aron, now studying for the Level 2 NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) as part of his apprenticeship, said: “I know I’ve made the right choice by starting an apprenticeship at IMS Floor Store - I’ve learned so much already and the Intraining team is supporting me to make sure I achieve all I can.”

Established over decades the Shaw family is a high profile name in the carpet business in the region, but the reason for IMS Floor Store’s recent expansion is the success the 26-year-old entrepreneur has had launching his online business CarpetRunnersUK.com resulting in predicted sales of over £1million in only its second year of trading.  

It was Myles who came up with the idea to reintroduce carpet runners - a narrow length of carpet designed to be laid in the hallway, staircase and landing - into the UK market.

He said: “I am very proud that in two short years we have gone from zero to nearly £1million sales. We are now the UK’s single largest supplier of carpet runners and are expanding into Europe.  

“I think the research we under took at the start to ensure quality and exclusivity on our product has put us in a very strong position. We are now planning for the future and Aron could be an integral part – he has joined the business at an exciting time.”  

IMS Floor Store now has a staff of five, plus two directors, working in the carpet and rug operation largely thanks to the sales generated by the online business. 

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