Written by Kathryn Scott, HR Director Canon UK & Ireland
National Apprenticeship Week: Having a diverse and inclusive team that encourages the next generation of leaders is the key to promoting a future-proof workforce. In this way, the role of apprentices could not be more valuable to the continued growth of our industry.
The theme of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Skills for Life’. On the surface, this serves as a timely reminder for businesses to consider how they’re engaging with apprentices and helping them to upskill.
But Skills for Life goes beyond the practical skills learnt on the job – it speaks to the importance of company culture more broadly. In particular, how a business’ corporate culture can be a key differentiator in attracting and retaining young talent.
By nurturing a culture of continued learning, HR leaders can help shape young people entering the industry and equip them with life-long, transferable skills, while also creating a strong sense of collective pride among the wider team – an environment that inspires purpose, creativity and innovation.
National Apprenticeship Week
Understanding corporate philosophy and the ‘why?’ behind your business
At Canon, our work culture is underpinned by our corporate philosophy of Kyosei – living and working together for the common good. From our rich history to our cutting-edge equipment, Kyosei reminds us all of the wider purpose and impact of our work. This philosophy is also directly reflected in the approach we take to our apprenticeship programme.
A key part of my role as HR Director has been driving forward the corporate culture of the business and thinking about how we can proactively adapt to our employee’s needs, including our apprentices – learning to nurture their personal growth alongside the company’s growth.
From the senior leadership team to the people entering the workforce for the first time, understanding what being part of the business means to employees will enable HR leaders to tailor an apprenticeship programme that is unique to their organisation, and promotes a strong sense of company identity, belonging and pride. After all, attracting and retaining talent comes down to having a corporate culture that people early in their career want to be a part of.
Alongside Kyosei, the Japanese philosophy of the San-ji spirits or The Three Selfs serve as a fundamental reminder of the founding philosophy behind the Canon company. The Three Selfs of self-motivation, self-management and self-awareness sit at the centre of our corporate culture, and reflect employees’ needs on three levels; helping them to fulfil their personal goals and ambitions, while contributing to an open and collaborative working environment, and engaging with their community. As ancient pillars that have been passed on since Canon was founded, The Three Selfs are part of our DNA as a global corporation and are a key driver behind the work we do for new recruits.
National Apprenticeship Week
Creating opportunities for continued growth
We’re committed to creating opportunities for those people who are early on in their careers who wouldn’t have the opportunity to join a large corporation, or who wouldn’t otherwise consider a career in our sector.
When it comes to building Skills for Life, it’s important that apprentices are given the opportunity to be involved across different layers of the business and in a variety of departments. At Canon, we’ve been able to offer a wide range of programmes, from a Level 2 qualification in Engineering Operative to Level 7 qualifications in Accountancy Specialist. With everything from marketing to IT and software programmes in between.
Laura Hamilton, one of Canon’s current apprentices in the Bid & Proposal team said: “Starting in December 2023, I began a Bid & Proposal apprenticeship, immersing myself in the entire process to become a skilled Bid Manager. My journey at Canon has been remarkable, thanks to a supportive team that has guided me through best practices, nurturing my growth and boosting my confidence. I am almost at the end now and looking forward to passing my final exams so that I can transition into the role of a full-time Bid Manager.”
The apprentice programme highlights the importance of doing the right thing for our local communities and helping to shape the future of the industry, as well as creating opportunities for our high potential leaders too.
“Canon’s sponsorship of senior leaders on apprenticeship courses at Cranfield University demonstrates its continued commitment to our career development. This investment has provided us with invaluable practical application, widening our strategic thinking, skills and knowledge, empowering us to excel in our roles and drive the business forwards,” comments JoAnne Lancaster, Head of Workspace Service at Canon UK and Ireland.
National Apprenticeship Week
Building an effective apprentice programme starts with a people-first culture
The positions we’ve created as part of our apprenticeship programmes are aimed to fill the gaps in the wider industry and encourage those early on in their careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths). By running our apprenticeship programmes, we hope to bring some fresh thinking into the company, whilst giving people opportunities that they might not find elsewhere.
As Canon UK and Ireland’s HR director, I’ve seen first-hand the value of a strong and diverse working culture, and its influence on employee satisfaction and motivation. Some of our staff are celebrating anniversaries of 40 years at the company, whilst we continue to employ interns and apprentices that are just being introduced to the working world. This balance between long-standing employee loyalty and the upcoming generation of leaders demonstrates the impact that corporate culture can have across all layers of the business – building Skills for Life that inspire long and fulfilling careers.
