Introducing Nyle, a former Warehouse Apprentice who is just one great example of how an apprenticeship can lead to lot’s of opportunities for career progression. Nyle completed his Level 2 apprenticeship in 2018, and through his persistence and appetite to learn he has experienced multiple roles to help him achieve his career goals. Nyle is now one of three Kitchen Sales Designers in a busy depot, supporting our trade customers to fulfil the needs of their end consumers by bringing their dream kitchens to life.
I chose an apprenticeship with Howdens because...
It allowed me to start earning money and pick up new skills that would help me in my future, I was always interested in the construction industry and designing so Howdens was the perfect company for me.
The best thing about my work at Howdens is:
Every day is different, I get to meet new people and experience different environments, one day I'll be measuring a barn conversion with acres of land the next day going on site measuring 10 new builds and having a laugh with the tradesmen.
What were your responsibilities as an apprentice and how has your career developed since
My responsibilities when working in the warehouse were picking kitchen orders and making sure the warehouse was kept in a tidy working condition. After working in the warehouse for a year I had the opportunity to work on the Trade Counter.
The Trade Counter Sales job role was more interactive with customers and helped me build up my product knowledge. Working on the counter allowed me to understand the sales aspect of the business, build strong relationships with our trade customers and boost my confidence.
After being on the counter for 3 years, I wanted to be a Kitchen Sales Designer so I started shadowing the designers to see how they survey the kitchens and plan out the designs on our Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. After 2 months I got promoted and haven’t looked back since!
The best aspect of my apprenticeship was:
Learning new skills and getting a qualification at the end of the apprenticeship
The advice I'd give for a smooth transition from school into work is...
Listen to advice given by your colleagues and don’t be scared to present new ideas.
Having just celebrated his 5th anniversary of working at Howdens, Nyle continues to champion apprenticeships, having encouraged his brother to apply for and start an apprenticeship in his depot. Furthermore, Nyle joined our early careers team at last years National Apprenticeship Event and Conference in Birmingham. He supported the Howdens stand by talking to students and school staff about his experience, to bring to life what life is like as an apprentice at Howdens.
Well done Nyle!
