Leek Life May/June 2014 | Page 15

APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME Apprentices fill skills gap for local manufacturer hen furniture manufacturer Nick Box was looking to expand his business he knew just where to look to find a reliable employee. The boss of Craft Furniture, which has bases in both Leek and Buxton, was so impressed with his apprentice joiner from Leek and Buxton College that he didn’t hesitate in taking on a second. Now, at the age of just 20, first apprentice Ben Snutch, who joined the company eighteen months ago, has made a real impact, being promoted to workshop manager at the Leek site and is helping supervise new apprentice Taylor Golding from Leek. From a base in Sneyd Street, Leek, a team of seven are employed in the manufacture of high quality cabinets, wardrobes, tables and chairs for supply to stores nationwide. Although he originally set out to be a site joiner, Ben, who completed his NVQ Level 2 in j