A recent beneficiary of a Small Business Apprenticeship grant; Whitebox was started by Mark Cropley in 2013, to sell van accessories online (ranging from van racking to roof bars to lights). Mark brought with him his previous Apprentice Administrator, Jodie Rogers, winner of Apprentice of the year award at Northbrook College, as his new co-director in the business.
Within the first year Whitebox opened its new premises in Lancing and employed Sheralee Pace as an Apprentice to help the business grow. Sheralee has since completed her apprenticeship and progressed to employee status.
“We heard about the Apprenticeship grant scheme through Northbrook College and Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce and decided to apply for a new apprentice to complete our team. The application process was easy to complete, we did have to provide a business plan in order to be successful but this, in itself, has benefited our business. A few weeks later we found out we had been successful!
This grant will help our business in a huge way; we pride ourselves in building our business by developing talented Apprentices. We can see the benefits, not just to the business but to the people who we take on as apprentices, it is great to watch them learn new skills and grow in confidence.
We have said from the beginning of Whitebox that we would love to build the business on apprentices, so we wish to continue on that path. We want to be the place where everybody wants to come and work and part of the business – our staff are our biggest asset. “
