Apprenticeships are a valuable investment for D.A. Harrison

Holistic training empowers team

D.A. Harrison is a proud family-run business, established in 1958 and one of Cumbria’s leading haulage firms.

Alongside their dedicated haulage division, D.A Harrison’s offer a diverse range of services including warehousing and storage solutions, a fuel station with on-site shop, skip hire, waste recovery and recycling, ready-mix concrete, pre-stressed concrete panels, and aggregate supply, among others. In addition, they are also an employer that invests in the growth and training of their team.

“Supporting team members to undertake the Transport Supervisor Apprenticeship has had a really transformative effect on our business. A short commercial course can support someone to achieve their Management CPC qualification, but an apprenticeship equips a learner with the confidence and ability to really step into the leadership role needed to succeed as a Transport Supervisor” Judith Williamson, Partner at D.A. Harrison

Team members Craig and Janette have been undertaking their Transport Supervisor Apprenticeship with SP Training, both completing their industry standard Management CPC qualifications first time to great acclaim. However, the apprenticeship is much more than a vehicle to achieve industry qualifications. An apprenticeship is an on-the-job training programme that equips learners with real-world skills that enable them to thrive professionally. 86% of companies believe that apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation (apprenticeships.gov). Over the programme both Craig and Janette have had the time and space to reflect on the development of key skills such as communication, time management, confidence, and professionalism.

“We’ve had colleagues undertake a short Management CPC course in the past, and these professionals have done well, but the holistic development afforded by an apprenticeship clearly has a beneficial impact on learners and their success.” Judith Williamson, Partner at D.A. Harrison

Throughout the course of their study, both Craig and Janette have been directly applying their apprenticeship learning to their day-to-day roles, increasing their confidence and enabling them to access their full professional potential within their field. Work based learning isn’t just about technical competence, important though that is, it should also be about empowering team members and investing in their continued professional development.