Bishopston Comprehensive School pupil Jac Richards was just 15 when he went on a school trip to visit a local company. Little did he expect the excursion would lead to him starting an apprenticeship with leading glass installation company AB Glass.
Jac Richards, 16, from Swansea, found inspiration regarding his future career during a school trip in October 2018.
The Year 11 pupil at Bishopston Comprehensive School joined his friends on a visit to see the offices and manufacturing facilities of AB Glass in Fforestfach, Swansea. They learned about a career in manufacturing and how the company they were visiting operates.
AB Glass is a leading aluminium manufacturing and installation company. It specialises in the manufacture and installation of facades, curtain walling, windows, doors and structural glass assemblies for both the domestic and commercial markets.
The company works across the UK often on very large commercial projects. It also has an access control division, AB Access, which produces a range of leading access control products.
Jac was inspired by what he saw. After the visit, he contacted the company and inquired about the possibility of commencing an apprenticeship there when he left school the following July.
AB Glass interviewed Jac for a position with the company. After he also successfully completed his GCSE exams, AB Glass offered him a full-time apprenticeship with the company, which he started in August 2019.
Jac is now also enrolled onto a Foundation Apprenticeship in Glass Industry Operations (Fabrications) with College Sir Gar.
Alan Brayley, Managing Director of AB Glass, said:
“We were pleased to be able to offer Jac an apprenticeship with AB Glass and help him with his journey into the world of work.
“We feel apprenticeships are a very successful way of helping school leavers continue with their studies as well as enabling them to be able to work at the same time – earning while you’re learning.”
Jac Richards, commented:
“AB Glass is a great company to work for and I am enjoying my apprenticeship here. It’s great to be able to learn while I work and gain the experience needed to be able to progress in my career.”