THE APPRENTICESHIP GUIDE
The apprentice who became the managing director
There are two decisions that Lee Summers is thankful he made during his career. The first involved an accident that stripped the roof off a car and led to him joining Elmrep as an apprentice more than two decades ago. The second saw him turn the tables as the managing director of the same firm and employ a 16-year-old in a similar role just two years ago. Mr Summers has been the MD of Gloucester-based photocopier specialists Elmrep for the past nine years, having first set foot in the firm as a wide-eyed apprentice in 1993. That he came to be there in the first place came thanks to a happy ‘accident’ that occurred in his first job after leaving Beaufort School. "When I left school, I knew I wanted to get into work straightaway and got a job with a car dealership." Mr Summers said. “Even though I was only 16, I used to drive the cars into the garage for the mechanics to look at, and one day I was driving a car into the bay and jumped out to speak to a guy. “I went to start it while standing alongside it, putting my hand through the window and forgot that I left it in gear and the handbrake was off. “It bolted off across the garage and under a car that was on one of the ramps… I said there and then that I had better be leaving, and sure enough, I was told to get on my way. “But they say things happen for a reason, and if it hadn’t been for that I wouldn’t have had the chance with Pete Zegveldt at Elmrep.” Given a chance as an apprentice by the Eastern Avenue-based firm, the 16-year-old Lee was able to make in instant impact. “I was on £30 per week and it was the making of me,” he said. “I had always wanted to work in sales and I was eager to get into that role, but Pete wanted me to learn the ropes of every department – and to be fair that was vital.
“I got to know the technology and all our different products inside out. Then I was able to learn about all the areas of the business, which was vital. “We had the warehouse and storeroom downstairs and the sales room upstairs and I always wanted to go upstairs and was always asking Pete if I could. “One day he said ‘give it a go’ and I have loved every day of it since. I still love going into work to this day.” Given his introduction to the job, Mr Summers is quick to realise the potential of apprentices and his current charge is among the best he has had. JakeWilkins joined the firm nearly two years ago and has proven himself to be something of a kindred spirit to the boss. “Jake came to us through knowing one of our staff and I can’t say enough good things about him, he just gets it,” Mr Summers said. “We have had a few people over the years I’ve been at the business and some make an impression for the right reasons and others for the wrong reasons. “There was a time when the previous management would only look at graduates and that brought mixed results, if I am being honest. “Sometimes a graduate can come in and think they’ve earned something when they’ve not actually done a proper day's work. “But I have found our apprentices to be the opposite. They are keen to learn and make an impression – that’s certainly been the case with Jake. “We are quite a proactive company and he’s proven himself to be a perfect fit because he thinks ahead and often does things before he needs asking. “He hasn’t got set ideas about what should be done and is able to adapt and keep numerous plates spinning and for a company like ours that is vital.” The only problem is that the apprentice will soon graduate into a more senior role and leave Mr Summers looking to recruit again. But a succession plan has been drawn up that allows Jake to thrive in a new role, while also taking seniority by training his successor.
56 | December 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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