Ian Betsho of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies talks about how the company benefits from the enthusiasm and new ideas apprentices bring to the table…
Name: Ian Betsho
Title: Organisational Development Business Partner
Company: FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
What does your organisation do?
We are a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation in the pharmaceuticals industry.
How long has it been employing apprentices?
20 Years +
How many apprentices (approximately) has your organisation delivered?
In the last year we’ve had 8 people successfully complete apprenticeships and had 30 in total on our programme.
Why are apprentices important?
Apprentices help with succession planning; they offer fresh perspectives from outside the organisation; it provides us with an opportunity to give back to the community; and helps in raising awareness of life science careers.
What is the biggest benefit apprentices provide?
They bring enthusiasm, new ideas, they are open minded and progressive.
What is the most challenging aspect of providing apprenticeships?
20% OTJ hours. Also, at Fujifilm we include apprentices in our head count which causes problems with approval to recruit.
What would you say to any business considering providing apprenticeship?
Good forward planning is everything.
Finally, why is the North East Apprenticeships Ambassadors Network important?
It keeps apprenticeship awareness alive, it is a voice to promote apprenticeships and has connections to influential stakeholders.
