For the last 20 years, Kimberly-Clark’s Barrow Mill has been taking on apprentices as it looks to create a strong, skilled workforce to take the company into the future.

An impressive total of 97 per cent of the apprentices will take up a full time role at the company.

Lois Turner, 20, from Flookburgh, is an electrical engineering apprentice.

“I chose Kimberly-Clark because it has a good reputation for an apprenticeship. It allows you to gain qualifications whilst giving you first hand experience working in the Mill understanding what is required.”

Andy Moonan, 36, is an Asset Leader. He was Kimberly-Clark’s first apprentice at Barrow Mill in 1995 and has seen his career go from strength to strength with the company.

“I’ve never felt the need to go anywhere else because I’ve always been able to develop in my current career. I’ve been very lucky in my career path and there are other apprentices at Barrow Mill who have gone just as far as me, or further.”

Engineering Manager Peter Duignan began his career as an apprentice at Barrow Mill with Bowater-Scott (pre Kimberly-Clark) and is now back after working all over the world for Kimberly-Clark.

“The Mill has given me a lot of opportunities and I want to finish my career where I started it. I'd like to give something back before I retire because I’ve benefited a lot from being here.”

Apprentice Training Co-ordinator Bob McClean is proud of the candidates coming out of the apprenticeship and going into technical and management roles at Barrow Mill.

“I would say that 70 per cent are still working at the Mill from when we started apprenticeships. Kimberly-Clark put a lot of energy into encouraging people to better themselves and improve their knowledge. We are not just giving them a job or training, we are looking to train them for a career.”