12 December 2014

You're hired! Eclipse demonstrates how well apprenticeships can work

Kettering-based print and direct mail company Eclipse has been spearheading the drive to get more local people out of unemployment and into meaningful careers.

Having found it hard to recruit candidates for what can be quite specialist roles, the company realised that the best way forward would be to grow their own talent. With this in mind their bespoke training scheme was created and several local people were taken on board who will benefit from a mixture of training and ‘on the job’ learning. Additionally, Eclipse has so far recruited one person into its warehouse operations and another into its client services’ team.

Dave Allan is positive about his experience so far, enthusing "I didn't realise there was so much to know about print! I've learned all about the trade and everyone has been really helpful, giving me the benefit of their time and experience."

"We’re delighted to be able to provide this opportunity to local young people, while at the same time creating a future pipeline of skilled print workers’ explained Managing Director Simon Moore. "The print industry isn’t necessarily the most glamorous, but it does offer long-term career options for those that show initiative and skill."

With a nationwide shortage of high quality apprenticeships, Eclipse have decided to continue with their scheme and are currently looking for candidates for both their print and direct mail divisions.

Eclipse is one of the UK’s largest commercial print and direct mail providers and employs a large number of people across 5 sites in the Telford Way Business Park in Kettering.

The group has also recently sent a number of it's newer employees on the BPIF's Introduction to Print seminar recently held at it's Meriden office. Dawn Reid Regional Director for Midlands/SW added, "The need for a seminar covering some of the fundamentals of print and print related areas for new people starting in the industry has been evident for a little while now. Our first Midland seminar was over subscribed and we've added a second date for January already with a view to running several more in 2015.

If you would like further information about the 'Introduction to Print' seminar or assistance with apprenticeships, please contact Ceri at the BPIF -

[email protected]