Here at AB Glass, we are pleased to announce that, on the back of a very robust start to the year and a rapidly growing order book, we have kickstarted a focused recruitment drive designed to ensure we have the right people and skillsets in the business to deliver for our clients.
This period of growth and expansion comes as the construction industry makes up for lost time following the disruption of the pandemic. Our order book is now valued at £5 million, comprising £4 million in confirmed orders for 2022, and a further £1 million for next year.
The order book contains a combination of residential, commercial and public sector work, working with the likes of universities, local authorities and blue-chip contractors such as Lloyd & Gravell and Bouygues.
Our extensive order book seen this year comes on the back of expanding our production capacity last year when we invested a six-figure sum to build a new 3,000 sq ft storage unit. This was implemented to increase the floor space for our production unit in anticipation of this boom in orders. More information on this investment can be found here.
Our bullish order book has prompted us to take a close look at our workforce. The result has been a plan to implement a focused recruitment plan designed to expand our workforce across roles that span manufacturing and administrative roles.
The approach will also focus heavily on ensuring there is a clear succession pathway for new recruits that allows for the development of specific skills and attainable progression.
This will also include a focus on internal promotions when possible, something we have always championed. One shining example of this strategy in action has been the career of Design Director Chris Haines, who progressed through several roles displaying hard work and determination to reach his current position.
As such, we encourage applicants who want to gain knowledge and experience – and progress in their career. As part of developing a career development pathway, we want to hire both trainees and apprentices and equip them with the skills and experience needed to progress. For example, we plan to invest in our new accounts assistant, putting them through the AAT Level 4 Qualification which will put them in good stead to progress.
We have also long been strong advocates of apprenticeships, seeing them as a gateway into the construction industry. We have taken on apprentices in the past, one of which you can read about here.
Speaking during National Apprenticeship Week this year, Alan Brayley, our Chairman, said:
“We have long championed the benefits of apprenticeships as a route into this industry and are proud supporters of National Apprenticeship Week. The construction industry can be a rewarding career for young people and initiatives like this are a fantastic way of raising awareness of the benefits of embarking on a career via this pathway.”
Nigel Harvey, our Managing Director, said:
“We are excited for the upcoming period of sustained expansion following the confirmation of a large volume of orders spanning into 2023. Taking a focused approach to recruiting trainees and apprentices is important to us as a company as we implement a development plan for new recruits and existing staff.”