The Apprentice Store is an IT service provider that delivers a unique quality IT service from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands to the local business community and beyond. What makes them unique is that they are the only Scottish IT service provider that invests all their profits into their staff whilst delivering a high quality and caring service to their clients.
The Apprentice Store have been working with Apt to support their current and future employees and to improve their business function. They have recently completed Apt’s Employer Assessment process. This is what Nicky Clark, from Anything HR, and Neil Skene, from Apt’s Experience Network had to say:
During our time working with The Apprentice Store, we found the level of supported inclusion to be exceptional, an example being where the time invested in the needs of employees ensures they have every opportunity to reach their goals. The apprentices are at the heart of the business, and this forms a real positive working environment.
Workplace culture is led from the top the where the leadership team access education around the values, principles and policies that go into creating an inclusive workplace, they continue go on to spread that knowledge which has and have a positive effect on the entire organisation.
The Apprentice Store takes time to find out the needs and talents of each employee. We found they take a holistic approach from attracting and recruiting disabled talent, through to retention. They don’t recruit employees from a traditional process, instead they have a talent pool who come from work experience candidates, and a job role is carved around that individuals’ skills and experience.
We found the Apprentice Store to have a positive and inclusive culture, with people-centred management that supports staff well. Currently disclosed disabled staff are well supported by managers, with the use of Access to Work, and various reasonable adjustments are made. Many common barriers to employment for disabled people are not barriers here.
The Apprentice Store also achieved the SUSE Inclusive Workplace Award in 2022. Keep up the amazing work!
Image Credit: Declan Ramsey
Back Row (Left to Right):
Ryan McKenna (Web Developer)
Declan Ramsey (Operations Manager)
David Massey (Managing Director)
Dave Cawthorn (Power Platform Mentor)
Front Row (Left to Right)
Donald Buchanan (Finance & Admin Assistant)
Michael Hendry (Web Developer – On screen working from home)
Flynn Liepins (IT Support Specialist)