Well, it was an exciting moment for all of us when TBC Conversions, in partnership with South West College, were announced winners of the SME Employer Award 2021.

As the team sat watching this year’s virtual awards ceremony live, we were proud to see MD David Donnell and Alastair Boothe talk so passionately about what our apprenticeship programme means to them and the people who enrol.

TBC Conversions’ Apprenticeship Program

As a unique vehicle conversion company, we stand out as employers at college open days and always have a large number of applicants to choose our apprentices from. With that comes a great responsibility to deliver worthwhile life and work skills to the young people who have chosen to train with us.

Apprentices at TBC Conversions are trained by our best staff members and split their time between practical and theoretical work in the classroom. We believe that working with apprentices benefits not only the individual in the programme but our business as well. Being able to develop and mould our apprentices, teaching them the TBC ways, allows us to essentially grow our workforce from the ground up.

“Our apprenticeship programme has been running for 10 years now, and we have a 100% success rate with all of our apprentices retaining employment on completion of their course.”

This year, we have had a total of 6 apprentices work with us under the scheme, each one fully integrated into the workforce as valued members of the team. We can only look forward to the coming year and being able to welcome more apprentices into the fold.

Working with South West College

In a partnership that has grown over the years, and will continue to grow stronger into the future, our work with South West College has proved invaluable to both TBC Conversions and the young people who choose to enrol in their apprenticeship programme.

Offering a wide range of courses, South West College provide their students with an exceptional level of support and opportunity to move into higher-value work within their region. Together with South West College, TBC Conversions can give back to the economy with our commitment to provide Northern Ireland with skilled individuals ready to enter the workforce.

The Effect of SME Employers

We are proud to be able to showcase the differences a small to medium business can make to an economy. With one of the highest concentrations of SMEs in the UK operating in Northern Ireland, it is businesses like ours that essentially form the backbone of the NI economy.

Working together with the education sector, we are able to ensure small to medium businesses continue to thrive and strengthen their effects on the NI Economy.

Awarding bodies like the Department for Economy give businesses like TBC Conversions a voice and platform to share our successes and give us the chance to celebrate both our apprentices’ achievements and our company’s development with other businesses.

“Winning is a testament to our team and celebrates the talent, abilities, and benefits gained by taking part. The awards also recognise influential partnerships between employers and training providers that support the continuous growth of Skills Development.”

The Future of TBC Conversions Apprenticeships

Although the National Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony was very different this year, it was nice for us to be able to share such an important moment with our team in Bromborough. As the announcement was made that TBC Conversions were the winner of the SME Employer Award 2021, it was amazing to know that all the staff working under the TBC banner were behind the company.

From the success of our apprenticeship programme in Dungannon, we can soon hopefully strike up a similar relationship with local colleges on the Wirral, offering that same head start in lives and careers for determined apprentices, keen to be part of something different.

If you are looking to enrol in an apprenticeship with TBC Conversions check out the prospectus on offer from South West College and get in touch today.