GRADUATES BUILD A BESPOKE CAREER WITH APROPOS

Aluminium and glass structure company leading the way on graduate recruitment

7th April 2011

At a time of continuing economic uncertainty and rising unemployment among young people, Apropos Tectonic is placing its faith in graduate recruits to mould its future.

The bespoke aluminium and glass structure company is a market leader and has a reputation endorsed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. However, company bosses are not keen for Apropos to rest on its laurels.

In recent years, the company has made key graduate appointments in design, sales, marketing and PR, and is now on the search for two more graduates to join its team.

“Apropos has a heritage stretching back over 70 years, but we have always stayed ahead because we have always brought new ideas to the table,” says Michael Barnes, Apropos’ managing director.

“Graduate recruits are a ready tap of new and creative ideas, dynamic potential, and infectious enthusiasm. Sir Alex Ferguson has always placed his faith in young footballers, and has won more trophies than anybody else, so why shouldn’t our business place its faith in rising stars?”

In recent years, major companies have scaled back graduate recruitment, in order to save money. Not so Apropos, who are currently looking to recruiting two graduates for trainee management roles in; design and sales, and, installation and construction.

“We do not have a formal graduate scheme,” adds Michael. “Instead, whenever we create a new role or look to replace a departing employee, we always consider the potential of a graduate recruit.

“As a result, most of our recent major appointments have been graduates. In return, they are allowed the freedom to realise their potential and have a real say in how the company moves forward. As a result, turnover among our graduate recruits is low, as the majority stay with us to develop their potential and enjoy the rewards of working in an expanding company that values their contribution.”

It is an exciting time to be joining Apropos. Along with its sister companies - Atelier and ClearSpan - the company is expanding at a rapid rate, following a management buy-out two years ago. Last year, the company broke the £1 million-a-month sales barrier for the first time, and, with orders coming in from as far afield as Taiwan, Apropos is breaking into the lucrative American market.

“Today’s graduates are tomorrow’s industry leaders,” concludes Michael. “However, here at Apropos, our company graduates are leading the way much sooner than their contemporaries, driving our growth, and reaping the subsequent rewards.”

APROPOS CASE STUDY

Name: Jason Pardesi
Age: 26 years
Job: Head of Technical Design, Atelier

Jason joined Apropos via a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Salford, following his graduation five years ago in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University.

During his time at Apropos, Jason has worked extensively for Apropos’ fledgling sister company, Atelier, which designs and manufactures cutting-edge, timber framed garden studios. As Head of Technical Design, the jaw-dropping good looks of Atelier’s studios are Jason’s creation.

Jason says, “When I left university, I didn’t know what to do; whether to stay on in full-time education or start straight at the bottom of the career ladder.

“Being involved in a KTP offered the best of both worlds, allowing me to work towards a Masters degree and work in a full-time project management position for Apropos. This project has since become a business in its own right - Atelier.”

Jason continues, “The freedom and responsibility that I have been afforded whilst working at Apropos and Atelier has been both daunting and extremely exciting. It has definitely been an uphill struggle; however, the support and encouragement that I have received has made the process enjoyable.

“If there were more companies that had the same approach to graduate recruitment as Apropos, I am certain that many of my university peers would not have struggled to find similar opportunities.

“Even though we have launched in an unpredictable and challenging financial climate, with a high-value, high-spec product, I nonetheless see a bright future for Atelier. The fact that we have an ever-growing order book after just one year in business is very encouraging. So, having been involved with the design and evolution of the Atelier concept into a profitable business, I plan on being involved in that bright future.”

For any graduate interested in working for Apropos Tectonic please click here.