Give a warm HPP welcome to our new apprentice Ellie McCartney!
Eighteen-year-old Ellie is undertaking a Level 3 NVQ apprenticeship in Business Administration - an opportunity we initially had to delay due to the impact of Covid-19.
She was originally due to start a Level 2 apprenticeship with us in early 2020 but when the pandemic began, we were forced to put her workplace training on hold.
Making good use of this time, Ellie undertook an NVQ course with Tameside College, until we were finally able to welcome her on board.
Ellie, who lives in Delph and attended The Blessed John Henry Newman College in Chadderton, said: "My current role is within the sales department. However, I have been introduced to every department to get an overall feel for the business as a whole and will be working across the company during my apprenticeship. My apprenticeship training provider is Oldham College and I attend the college once a month.
"I've been warmly welcomed by HPP and been made to feel part of a team, not a number. I was quite anxious when I first started but everyone has been lovely. They have helped me gain great confidence in myself already.
"Deon Phoenix, Lesley Minshull, Nichola Roddy have been training me on sales and have done an amazing job. They are always there for me if I need help. They've help me learn so many new things each day. When I wake up each morning, I look forward to going to work, which is such a nice feeling."
"It's great to learn about our different trade customers' requirements and interests. In the future, I'd be interested in specialising in Human Resources in business - catering for different people with different needs and backgrounds. In the meantime, I hope to learn about all the different aspects of how a business operates so I can build my knowledge to eventually move closer to an HR role."
Ellie said her family has also influenced her interest in business. Her dad, John Smith, runs the Heroes of Waterloo restaurant and bar in Ashton, Tameside.
She said: "My dad is one of my biggest inspirations. He's a business owner and has worked from being a chef to running his own restaurant.
"From the age of 13, I've always done some kind of work. When I was still at school, I worked at my dad's restaurant. I think working from a young age has helped me gain customer service and time management skills."
In her leisure time, Ellie likes to see her family and enjoys going to the gym and keeping active.