A young Oldham apprentice has made history.
Ellie Shepherd is completing her level 2 furniture manufacturer apprenticeship with Hill’s Panel Products, making her the company’s first female apprentice in a shopfloor role.
She decided to pursue a manual apprenticeship after seeing her 19-year-old brother Sam working as a cabinet maker.
Ellie became even more determined when her decision was apparently met with scepticism.
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The 17-year-old said: “I was told I should think about working in a pharmacy, or some kind of work like that.
"But when I saw what my brother was doing, I said that’s what I wanted to do, and even though people said I wouldn’t be able to, I said I was going to prove everybody wrong.
“I want to get as many qualifications as I can to go higher in the company, becoming a supervisor and even a manager.
“I want to prove that a girl can do that. I think more girls would like it, it’s never boring and you’re always busy.”
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The former pupil at the Co-op Academy in Failsworth left school with six GCSEs and started her apprenticeship at another borough-based business before joining HPP.
The company manufactures and supplies board, doors, fittings and accessories to the fitted kitchen and bedroom industry.
Ellie is now 10 months into her qualification with another eight to go.
Her current work and studies are based on learning about machinery, assembly and the jigs used to make the drawers.
Ellie, who lives in Chadderton, added: “I’m learning quickly, and I’m already signed off on the saw, which I’m buzzing about.
“Everyone here is dead friendly and very professional. I’m grateful I’ve got this opportunity; they’re teaching me such a lot.”
Dan Mounsey, HPP’s marketing and business development director, said: “We were originally recruiting for warehouse and logistics, but after we interviewed Ellie, it was clear that the role she would be doing with us would fit the furniture manufacturer qualification, so it made sense for her to carry on with that rather than start again and lose all the progress she had made.”
Ellie is HPP’s second young apprentice this year, joining 18-year-old Warren Booth, from Fitton Hill, who started out on a government-funded, eight-week traineeship before embarking on his level 2 warehouse and logistics apprenticeship.
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