You're hired! Newbury MP Richard Benyon meets the new apprentices at Hitachi Capital

Local MP Richard Benyon has met with seven new apprentices embarking on a new career at Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions (Hitachi Capital). He visited the vehicle finance and leasing company at its Newbury head office for the launch of the apprenticeship scheme in collaboration with Newbury College. Also there to congratulate the successful candidates was Pat Frith, sales and account manager at Newbury College.

The two-year apprenticeship scheme is part of Hitachi Capital's continued efforts to source new talent from within the community, providing a viable alternative to expensive university courses and allowing college leavers to earn a competitive wage with the opportunity of a future career.

Over the course of the scheme the apprentices will have the chance to learn valuable business skills across a number of departments within Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions. They will also have the opportunity to work from the company's Trowbridge office to gain experience of the commercial vehicle division. This will eventually lead to an NVQ Level 3 qualification.

Apprentice William Gear comments, "I was attracted to Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions' apprenticeship scheme by the exciting prospects offered within the role. The professionalism of the scheme appealed to me as well as the opportunity to learn valuable business skills as part of a prestigious international brand. I'm looking forward to being put through my paces in the hope that a future career awaits me."

Hitachi Capital has since expanded the scheme to its Trowbridge-based commercial vehicle division, with five candidates currently being selected from the local area. Apprentices at the two locations will be working together to gain a broad understanding of the organisation.

Robert Wastell, managing director, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions comments, "Between the increase in university fees and extremely high level of competition in the job market, it's very tough out there for new college leavers at the moment. We want to do our part to provide opportunities for skilled and hardworking young people looking for their first step in the business world. Not only is the scheme a valuable experience for the apprentices, but it also gives us the opportunity to continually recruit fresh talent at Hitachi Capital."

Pat Frith is delighted to be working with Hitachi and said, "It was a wonderful opportunity for Richard Benyon to learn about the scheme that Newbury College and Hitachi have been working on and to see the Apprentices in their working environment".