Arden flies for the flag for packaging sector during National Careers Week

Posted on: Thursday, March 10th, 2022

The Arden Group is backing National Careers Week by encouraging young people to consider a career in the packaging sector.

This week (March 7 – 12) is National Careers Week – an opportunity for young people to consider their future career paths.

We’re flying the flag for the packaging industry and promoting the benefits of manufacturing, engineering and technology careers within the sustainable packaging industry.

The Arden Group runs a successful apprenticeship programme, particularly within our die-making division, where apprentices learn everything they need to know about the die-making industry; covering a range of disciplines including CAD, CNC, die-making and Quality.

Arden apprentice Owen Kelly is part-way through a three-year apprenticeship programme, currently completing a Level 2 in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He hopes to start a Level 3 as a Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician later this year.

Owen, aged 19, said: “The apprenticeship with Arden is perfect for me. I have been helping look after the equipment and machinery, keeping them to a high standard and also assisting in fault finding and repairs on machines.

“I’ve had an interest in engineering for a long time, so I thought it would be a great career path to go down. Plus, with an apprenticeship, you are learning and earning, meaning you can get the qualifications you need, without the worry of debt from university.”

Owen attends college with The Growth Company once a week, alongside the hands-on learning and experience he gets with Arden.

He added: “I would definitely recommend the apprentice route as I believe it’s the best way to get your foot in the door of the industry you are passionate about. For anybody who is considering an apprenticeship, I’d say that as long as you put in the effort and work hard at it, you’ll achieve the skills, knowledge and qualifications needed to succeed in your industry.”

Sarah Poynter, operations manager at Arden Engraving, added: “The packaging industry provides a promising career path, but there is perhaps a lack of awareness amongst young people today about the opportunities that are open to them in this sector.

“Nationally, there’s been a drive during recent years to promote the benefits of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects to young people and packaging is no exception.

“From mechanical engineering to software development, the packaging sector provides a wealth of opportunities for young people to build themselves a bright career within a booming industry.”