ESTELLE SMITH - REGIONAL BUSINESS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Estelle Smith, age 21, Business Administration Apprentice at Gripple, a world leading manufacturer of suspension systems for construction and wire tensioning systems for agriculture.
Estelle joined the internal sales department at Gripple after leaving school at 16. She is completing a four-year business administration apprenticeship programme with Sheffield College and is responsible for administering agricultural orders across Europe.
Estelle recently won the regional Business Apprentice of the Year: Final Year category in the Make UK Manufacturing Awards 2020 for making a significant contribution to Gripple’s business activities.
Estelle said: “I feel really proud. It is brilliant that my employer has recognised my hard work. Through the apprenticeship programme, I have gained confidence and knowledge which has developed me as an individual and enabled me to make an increasing contribution to my team.”
She added: “Gripple is a company which encourages its staff to grow and develop. I have been earmarked for the next cohort of staff who will undertake the future leaders programme. This will expose me to all aspects of what is required to run a business.”
From her start at Gripple in 2016, Estelle has been an internal sales administrator for Gripple Europe and given a full-time contract. She gained NVQs at Level 2 and Level 3 and is now completing an NVQ Level 4 with ambitions to progress within the firm.
Kirsty Royston, Internal Sales Manager, Gripple, added: “Estelle always works very hard and has strengthened customer relationships to the highest level, both directly on the telephone and via email, ensuring that all concerned fully understand the processes involved.”
Gripple is a world leading employee-owned manufacturer of suspension systems for construction and wire tensioning systems for agriculture, employing 800 people across 15 global locations with four manufacturing sites in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
The company went on to win two national Make UK Manufacturing Awards – the Business Growth and Strategy and Developing Future Talent categories and the coveted Manufacturer of the Year.
Find out more about Gripple.
Find out more about apprenticeships at Sheffield College.