Inside the Wickes Apprenticeship Programme: Skills Training, Mental Health & Life in the Trades

Going into National Apprenticeship Week I explore how Wickes, a UK nationwide retailer focused on trade environments, is investing in the future of skilled trades through its apprenticeship programme. Launched in 2019, the programme has already supported multiple cohorts and is designed to give apprentices real-world experience, with 80% of the 18-month apprenticeship spent on-site gaining hands-on skills. 

My guest, Jasmin Benford, the Service Delivery Manager for the Apprenticeship Team, shares her unique journey from interior design and nursing to then landing with Wickes. Offering insight into career change and the creativity involved in trade work. She discusses the structure of the apprenticeship, including practical assessments, coursework, and the value of learning directly from experienced installers across the business. 

The conversation also highlights Wickes’ strong focus on mental health support for apprentices and its commitment to encouraging more women into trade careers. 

This episode is ideal for anyone interested in apprenticeships, trade careers, skills training, or career transitions, offering an honest look at modern apprenticeships and the future of the trade industry. 

Key Takeaways 

• Wickes is a Uk Nationwide retail business focused on trade environments. 
• The Wickes apprenticeship program was launched in 2019 and has seen multiple cohorts. 
• Mental health support is a key focus for apprentices at Wickes. 
• The apprenticeship lasts 18 months, with 80% on-site training. 
• Wickes aims to recruit more female apprentices in the trade. 
• Apprentices receive hands-on training from experienced installers. 
• Supplier relationships are crucial for providing up-to-date training. 
• The program includes a mix of practical assessments and coursework. 

Follow me: 

Instagram: @lifeofafemaletradie_ 

Tiktok: @loaftpodcast 

Facebook: Life Of A Female Tradie 

Youtube: @lifeofafemaletradiepodcast 

Follow Guest: 

Instagram: @lifeatwickes

Email:  installationapprenticeships@wickes.co.uk 

You will reach Jasmin or one of the Apprenticeship Team Leaders via this email for any course enquiries.

Website:  www.wickescareers.co.uk 

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Wickes and Apprenticeships 

03:51 Jasmin's Background and Role at Wickes 

08:10 Wickes Apprenticeship Program Overview 

12:45 Support and Resources for Apprentices 

17:03 Future Goals and Recruitment at Wickes 

21:13 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts 

25:57 Follow, Like, Review - Thank You 

Transcript

Jasmin (00:10)

Hi, my name is Yaz and I am the service delivery manager for the Wickes apprenticeship team.

Laura (00:16)

Amazing. Well, welcome to Life of a Female Tradie podcast, Yaz. It's wonderful to have you on the show. like to just start by asking you to explain to the listeners who may not know who Wickes are as a company, if you could just explain to them who you are.

Jasmin (00:33)

So Wickes is a nationwide retail business specifically within trade environments. We do also have our own very lucrative kitchen and bathroom installation program that we run and obviously the apprenticeships feed into that as well.

Laura (00:48)

And obviously it's UK based, yes.

Jasmin (00:51)

Yes, we are UK based. The apprenticeship program itself though is only England based but obviously Wickes is UK based.

Laura (01:00)

Okey dokey. All right And Yaz, what is your background,

Jasmin (01:05)

So my background's quite squiggly. I actually went to university and I did an interior design degree in architecture. And then I actually retrained and went into nursing, which is really different. But maternity leave threw some spanners in the works and I actually went back into designing. So I actually started out as a DC, so it's a design consultant with Wickes.

Laura (01:13)

Wow.

Jasmin (01:29)

six years ago, six years ago, So yeah, been with us for a while. And then I'll spend the next four and a half years doing that before moving into other departments and then joining the apprenticeship team in November, 2024.

Laura (01:30)

Wow.

Wow,

very eclectic mix there from you, can you just describe your role a bit more in detail within the

Jasmin (01:56)

So as the service delivery manager, I support our team leaders. So at the moment we are a team of two, which will be expanding to a team of three in the next few months.

The team leaders are obviously those that are accountable and take care of the day to day of our apprentices. But I support with recruitment, I support with the sort of recruitment of new apprentices as well as new installers for the programme. So sort of building those connections with installers out there and their field managers to support making sure we're getting the right people into the programme to help with the growth of our apprentices as well.

⁓ We do a lot of connection building. It's really difficult when you suddenly get asked what your role is and you have to think. But yeah, we do a lot. So I do a lot.

Laura (02:37)

Yeah.

It sounds like it, yeah.

Jasmin (02:44)

Obviously, the recruitment is a big part of our process every year, but then also sort of installer retention. So making sure that we are keeping the right installers for the programme that we know will benefit the apprentices going forward. We run some sessions towards the end of the 18 month programme that will help with like self employment and getting set up and things like that as well. So I'll play a part in that.

Laura (03:06)

wow.

Jasmin (03:08)

And just making sure that we're getting the right documents together to allow people to go self-employed and to have that future for themselves as well. Yeah, so Wickes as a business obviously have their approved installers. Now they go through a large vetting process before they are brought on board as a Wickes installer.

Laura (03:15)

Amazing. And when you say installers, is that the businesses that the apprenticeships go and work with alongside?

Jasmin (03:35)

And obviously as part of our apprenticeship program, we do like another mini vet as such to make sure that they are showing the the right sort of signs and behaviors for taking on an apprentice and are not just looking for a spare pair of hands. We do get that quite often. But obviously an apprenticeship is there to learn and to grow and to build those skills. So making sure that we have those right installers that will put

Laura (03:51)

Yes.

Jasmin (04:02)

the apprentice in those situations to allow them to have that opportunity as well is so important. And I do a lot of those conversations.

Laura (04:08)

Yeah.

okay, wow. And how long has Wickes been running the apprenticeship scheme?

Jasmin (04:18)

So we launched the program in 2019, so seven, yeah, six and a bit, seven years ago nearly. And we have had quite a few groups go through that process since. So we are actually at the moment recruiting for our 22nd and 23rd kitchen cohort. And our sixth bathroom cohort has just started in December.

Laura (04:22)

Okay.

Wow.

Jasmin (04:42)

we are Yeah.

Laura (04:43)

Amazing. I mean, I had no idea Wickes ran an apprenticeship program until I came across one of your apprentices on Instagram. I thought, wow,

it just made sense straight away So yeah, it's such a great.

program that you offer. And what apprenticeships do you offer? Is it kitchens and then bathrooms?

Jasmin (05:09)

Yeah, so we we offer a separate kitchen one or a bathroom one at the moment we don't have a combined K and B one.

And so people that are interested will obviously need to sort of look at whether they're more interested in the carpentry side, in which case the kitchen apprenticeship would be more suited, or if they're more sort of interested in the tiling and the plumbing aspects, in which case the bathroom one would be much better suited for them then. But yeah, we offer the two at the moment.

Laura (05:34)

OK. And with the kitchen one, does that also entail the slight bits of electrics and plumbing within it? Or is it the carpentry aspect mainly?

Jasmin (05:47)

So the college course that they do throughout the apprenticeship is actually a level two fitted furniture. So it's generic across both kitchens and bathrooms. However, when they're on site is where they actually learn the more specific skills. So obviously with a kitchen apprenticeship, you will learn your more sort of carpentry joinery skills from your installer.

Laura (06:02)

Okay.

Jasmin (06:07)

on your Monday to Friday sort of day to day. We do say that they're not allowed to be involved with any gas or electric work just because obviously they need to be done by competent people. Not saying our installers aren't, but obviously a lot of those bring in their own subcontractors to complete those aspects of the job. Now they are welcome to observe and sort of ask questions to find out how it works, sort of understanding.

wiring of a socket or how to put in an oven and things like that but we wouldn't expect them and we wouldn't allow them to be involved with the actual installation of any of that electric work as such because yeah obviously it all needs to be signed off and and done properly to to make sure it's compliant.

Laura (06:37)

Okay.

Indeed.

Gotcha, okay. That's good part to understand because obviously those of us that are in the trades that have worked on big renovations, certain trades overlap into certain parts, don't they, of a property? understanding from an apprenticeship side of things what you will be able to touch and what you won't be able to touch.

Jasmin (07:05)

Yes.

Yeah, I mean, they generally will be allowed to be involved in all aspects of site. So, you know, if the installer does a bit of plastering and they're happy for them to be involved with that, they'll get an insight into what plastering is like. If they're doing all the plumbing or the tiler is coming in, then they can spend time with those guys as well. So they will learn how to tile, they'll learn how to do your flooring. They will learn your basic sort of plumbing within kitchen work as well. Obviously boilers is linked to gas and things like that. So we tend to stay clear, but

Laura (07:43)

Yeah.

Jasmin (07:43)

You

will have the carpentry aspect of sort of building a unit around a boiler that will sometimes use a bit of head scratching that the apprentices will be involved with and sort of being allowed to get stuck in on as well. So we have sort of, I suppose, two levels of support. have your first one, which is always your team leader. So

Laura (07:56)

Awesome. Yeah, really cool. And what sort of support do the students get during their apprenticeship?

Jasmin (08:10)

They are your initial sort of contact point for an apprentice to reach out to whether that is troubles at home that just need a sort of a listening ear to or a bit of support with. obviously within the business we can support with sort of salary finance and sacrifice and things like that as well. So if there's money, money issues or problems that crop up, we have a lot of support network out there as well.

Laura (08:28)

Okay.

Jasmin (08:33)

We do an awful lot around wellbeing and mental health. we are, we have got mental health first aiders within the team. And we, we also have a lot as a business that we can offer with like a company that we outsource a lot of that work too. So again, when things crop up in life, cause that is what life is nowadays, you get a lot of things that can take you. So we, we give an awful lot of support in that sense. But obviously with the college aspects you have.

Laura (08:53)

Indeed.

Jasmin (09:01)

training officers at our college providers as well. So if they need any help with with submitting their coursework we can look at different ways so if somebody is maybe not too techie and doesn't really get computers we can do things like oral submissions so you can send a voice note and submit your work that way instead. If you sort of struggle with the actual typing aspect because you might be dyslexic we can look at sort of

somebody there to support with the typing aspect. So you sort of verbally give those answers and talk them through and then somebody's just typing them up for you. AI does a lot of the sort of recordings and can pre-type for you nowadays as well. So there's an awful lot that we can do to help an apprentice get through that day to day and get through the apprenticeship as well. The other aspect obviously is our supplier training.

Laura (09:42)

Yep.

Jasmin (09:49)

So your installers are obviously a wealth of knowledge. But sometimes you get the odd one that is a bit stuck in their ways because they've done it the same way for the last 30 odd years. However, our suppliers are obviously always changing things in terms of how best to fit X, Y and Z and looking at sort of new regulations that come in and things like that as well. the apprentices are sent to supplier training in both kitchens and in bathrooms. And that's where they can obviously get first hand on.

Laura (09:55)

You

You

Okay.

Jasmin (10:17)

experience and understanding around certain products from the suppliers directly which is obviously really invaluable to them as well.

Laura (10:24)

Absolutely. I love that you mentioned the support around mental health, wellbeing, and also making adjustments for different learners. Because I'm sure at least everybody knows somebody that learns in a different way to them. So being able to adjust things to suit the different type of student that you might get. that's fantastic. And you also mentioned,

Having someone there to speak to about anything that's not associated with the apprenticeship that they're going through is also incredible because again, anybody of any age always needs bit of support or a listening ear sometimes, don't they? Yeah.

Jasmin (11:08)

Yeah, I

mean, I'd probably say our second title is probably counselor sometimes. We do an awful lot. But actually, at the same time, it's really lovely that the apprentices have that trust in us to be able to open up in that way as well. And our employee assistance program is amazing in terms of what they offer for mental health. So if you are really struggling, like what

the business actually put together is so worth accessing. And we do find a lot of our apprentices from time to time do access and use it as well, which is really good. So we always obviously aiming to get slightly bigger and better as probably any business does every year.

Laura (11:40)

Absolutely, yeah, that is really good. Okay, what is Wickes's main drive for 2026?

Jasmin (11:54)

Our main aim at the moment is we have expanded our team to be able to support our graduates in a much better position as well, which will allow us to support our apprentices throughout their programme much better as well. So as I alluded earlier, we are moving up to three team leaders. So I have currently got one, she is on maternity leave, but will be back in the middle of the year. So that will then take us up to those three team leaders as well, to be able to give them enough time.

to spend with those apprentices and to support in particular if you've got somebody that is a little bit struggling one way or another. And then obviously our field managers support the graduates out there. So there are apprentices who've been through the programme, have completed it and are now set up as self-employed and running their own businesses, but obviously doing Wickes jobs for us. So they get an awful lot of guidance and support from the department as well.

Laura (12:40)

Wow.

Amazing. And are you pushing for a new cohort of students to come through the ranks at the moment?

Jasmin (12:53)

We are, so as I mentioned, we are in the middle of recruitment, which is always a very busy time. But we will have two new cohorts starting at the end of March with us. So again, those locations are sort of dotted fairly much up and down England at the moment.

we're just sort of looking at finalizing which of those candidates we want to bring to our assessment centers as well. which is like a really, really fun step, as opposed to like a face to face interview. it's like a day where we spend together, do some activities, team groups, that sort of thing to get to know them as a person. ⁓ so the experience isn't, isn't everything. So CVs, although they, they submit them.

Laura (13:19)

Yeah.

Cool. Yeah, yeah.

Jasmin (13:35)

they don't always give who a person is whereas those conversations really do.

Laura (13:38)

Yeah, yeah.

Absolutely. And have you got a good mix of female and male, girls and boys this time?

Jasmin (13:48)

We have, ⁓ we, obviously we trialed a new sort of marketing strategy to see if we could appeal to a few more females in the trade as well. we have got a few of our own female graduates, who have been through the program and are at their fit in for us in customer's homes, which is amazing. ⁓ and then obviously we've got a few more this year that are due to graduate as well. I'm sure the person you follow on Instagram is one of those.

Laura (13:57)

Awesome.

Wow.

I think she

is, yep.

Jasmin (14:14)

Cheers.

But yeah, so it's really exciting to know that people like that are going to be out there in customers homes in a good few months doing their own jobs as a byproduct of sort of having been through our apprenticeship as well.

Laura (14:29)

it just came to my head, like, I am kind of still learning the ins and outs of what an actual apprenticeship is. And I just realized I don't know typically how long an apprenticeship takes. How long is somebody with you until they are technically let loose to do their own self-employed life?

Jasmin (14:50)

So it's, it's officially, it's an 18 month apprenticeship. Now 80 % of that time is on site. 20 % of that time will be college based. So the majority of what you learn on a day to day will be from your installer and from being hands on.

Laura (14:54)

Okay.

Jasmin (15:06)

Um, so obviously apprenticeships are generally aimed at people that are a little bit more practical that prefer sort of the aspect of learning through doing rather than learning through death by PowerPoint or whatnot. Um, but you know, that's, that's where we really appeal in that sense. Um, we do have the college aspect, but that is just part and parcel of an apprenticeship. you do have to go through it. Um, but they're done in six or seven blocks, depending on kitchens or bathrooms, and they're only a week at a time. So.

Laura (15:18)

Yeah.

Jasmin (15:34)

18 months you're not spending more than six or seven weeks at college so actually the majority of your learning is on site.

Laura (15:41)

Okay.

Okay. And is the student assessed through coursework and a catalogue of their work that they've carried out on site or is there a test at any point?

Jasmin (15:55)

So to be able to graduate from the programme as such obviously is A, to complete the 18 months and get through it and then as part of it you also have to sit what we call an Endpoint Assessment or an EPA. Now that is set out through the Educational Governing Body to complete as part of the apprenticeship.

now that is broken down into three parts. So you have a professional discussion, which is all around the assessor asking you questions and understanding if you know, like the processes, if you understand ⁓ why you do things in X, Y, and Z order as opposed to ABC. they also do a practical assessment. So you are tasked with building a small kitchen set up within a set amount of time. So they can assess sort of the skill side of it as well.

Laura (16:27)

Okay.

Jasmin (16:40)

And then the third part is a multiple choice questions, which again is based on the coursework you've completed to show whether you've got that understanding of actually the different policies, the different legislations that are out there. So all your laws and things like that, that they are been taken in and you've paid attention throughout the 18 months and you know what you're looking forward to as well.

Laura (16:51)

Okay.

Okay, wow, very interesting. do you see more women or girls choosing the kitchen or the bathroom side of that you offer?

Jasmin (17:16)

We do tend to find it as more kitchen directed as opposed to bathrooms.

Laura (17:21)

Okay.

Jasmin (17:23)

Not really sure why. We just tend to find there are more women interested in sort of the carpentry aspect, whether they're people that sort of fell into it through doing a bit of DIY in their own homes or just through partners or family members that are in the trade as well, then naturally sort of falling into those brackets. But yeah, we do tend to find the interest is more so on kitchens than bathrooms.

Laura (17:25)

Yeah.

Yep.

Gotcha. I mean, when I ask my guests if they could be a different trade, what would they choose? 99 % of people choose carpentry. So it is a popular trade for sure. Definitely.

Jasmin (17:59)

Yeah. I think

it's, very all rounded as well, because you can apply carpentry to a lot of different aspects as well. You can go down the woodworking route.

Laura (18:09)

yeah.

Jasmin (18:11)

You can go down your sort of internal doors, external doors, architraves, side of things, or you can obviously go bit more finite with kitchen fitting or bespoke joinery indoors. You get a lot of media units nowadays that everyone wants making, alcoves building and whatnot. So it definitely appeals to a lot of people.

Laura (18:23)

Yeah.

Yep.

Definitely.

Just to touch back on you mentioning the suppliers that you work with, how easy

is it from their point of view to work with Wickes and your apprenticeship scheme?

Jasmin (18:47)

So that does generally sort of dealt with with James and Connie who sort of lead the apprenticeship program. They build up those relationships with our suppliers. They obviously reach out to ask if

Laura (18:55)

okay.

Jasmin (19:00)

It is something they are happy to sort of teach our apprentices because we see the value in learning sort of from first hand experience what the right way to do it is. We are really big as a business and wanting to make sure that people are doing things the correct way as opposed to doing it through something that maybe was correct 30 years ago, but has now been updated through legislations and regulations that have obviously changed with the times as well.

Laura (19:22)

Mm.

Jasmin (19:28)

And that's where those supplier meetings are so important because they will tell you exactly how their product is best fitted. Whether that's a worktop, whether that's a shower tray, whether that's a screen, it will tell you exactly how best to fit that item in a customer's home as well.

Laura (19:37)

Okay.

Yeah.

Okey dokey. And apart from the drive for the next group of students coming into the scheme, has the Wickes apprenticeship scheme got any other big announcements that they can share with us for this year?

Jasmin (20:04)

well, we run three recruitment drives every year. So obviously we've got the first two groups going live in at the end of March. But we have two further ones that will be opening for.

June and a September start so anyone that's interested just needs to raise that inquiry. The main thing is that we just need people to be over 18 and that's just from

Laura (20:19)

Mmm.

Gotcha.

Jasmin (20:29)

the education side of things to be able to get the funding ⁓ and we just need people to sort of have access to a vehicle to be able to travel because obviously not everybody will be local to our college in Nottingham to be able to get about as well.

Laura (20:33)

Okay.

⁓

Yep.

There you go. Okay, so you've got to be a driver and you've got to be over 18.

Jasmin (20:48)

Yes. So we, whenever we've got recruitment drive, obviously all of our applications will be open through the Wickes website under the careers section. Otherwise, if you, if you reach out to

Laura (20:49)

Fabulous. Alrighty. Okay. And where can people find the links or website, et cetera, to inquire about these things?

Jasmin (21:13)

anyone within the team or anyone within a store, will normally, normally always redirect you to us as a team as well. So if you pop into a local Wickes store, most of them will pick up with someone in the department within installations and can pop you to the right person. Otherwise I am happy to share my email as well that people can just pop an email over and then I can pick up with you, get you onto our interested in our waiting list that way as well. And we'll go that way.

Laura (21:35)

All right.

Perfect. And you can even mention to me, happily pass things on.

Jasmin (21:40)

Perfect. And you can even mention I'll happily pass

Perfect.

Laura (21:45)

So we're now towards the end of our little chat. And to keep in with the theme of my episodes, I like to do a bit of a quick fire question round with you, if that's all right.

Jasmin (21:57)

Yeah, sure.

Laura (21:57)

Okay, bit random. So here we go. Tea or coffee?

Jasmin (22:01)

I'm an neither person. I don't do hot drinks. Yeah, don't do hot drinks. If squash is an option, I'd be well in there. Let's What any particular flavor?

Laura (22:04)

OK, fair play. That's fine.

No worries. ⁓ let's have that then. any particular flavour?

Jasmin (22:15)

Normally just summer berries. Summer berries, there bathrooms or kitchens?

Laura (22:18)

Summer berries, there we go. And bathrooms or kitchens.

Jasmin (22:22)

That's a difficult one. a bit naughty that, it? Yeah. I like them both for different reasons, I'd say. Good answer. Okay. Dogs or cats? God. I have one of each, so again, that's really difficult.

Laura (22:24)

That's a bit naughty, that, isn't it?

Good answer. Okay. Dogs or cats?

Hahaha

Jasmin (22:39)

I'm not doing very well here, am I? No, I'll probably say more of a cat person than a dog person. Okay, fair enough. And driver or passenger? Definitely passenger princess. And built-in appliances or free-standing? I'd say built-in apart from a fridge.

Laura (22:39)

I'm not doing very well here, am I?

Okay, fair enough. And driver or passenger.

And built-in appliances or freestanding.

Jasmin (22:59)

Because I think fridges you lose a lot of your depth when you go built in. Okay good to and last on-site learning or online learning? I'm definitely an on-site person hands-on getting stuck in and having a go yeah. Love that cool.

Laura (23:00)

Mm. Yeah.

Okay, good to know. And last one, on-site learning or online learning.

Love that.

Cool.

Okay,

Jasmin (23:23)

so the final three questions that I like to ask everybody

Laura (23:23)

the final three questions that I like to ask everybody,

if you could be a tradie on the tools, what trade would you choose and why?

Jasmin (23:27)

If you could be a trader on the tools, what trade would you choose and

why?

that is a hard one.

I'd probably would say I'd go into a carpentry route somewhere along the way, whether that's kitchen fit in or just general carpentry. But then I also really enjoy tiling. ⁓ good

Laura (23:40)

Yep.

Ooh, good shout.

Awesome, I like that. I don't think anyone said tiling.

Jasmin (23:50)

Awesome. I like that. I don't think anyone said tiling.

Oh, no, I love like, especially when you get like different eccentric tiles and you can put different patterns together. That is my jam. I love it. Love And what trade or who do you think I should have on the show next?

Laura (24:02)

Love that. And what trade or who do you think I should have on the show next?

Jasmin (24:08)

feel like something that's not a common, or is common known trade, something in that direction could be quite interesting, something really random. Yeah, maybe like a mechanic or something like that. Yeah, I spoke to an applicant earlier and they were, they'd worked on cranes. Which I thought was really interesting, really different.

Laura (24:17)

Yeah, like like a mechanic or something like that.

Yes,

Jasmin (24:32)

because

Laura (24:32)

that.

Jasmin (24:32)

that's got to be a whole different world being god knows how many feet up in the air. ⁓ yeah, my guest last actually mentioned a young girl that works on wind That is cool. Isn't it? Yeah. Scary but...

Laura (24:37)

yeah, absolutely. my guest from last week actually mentioned a young girl that works on wind turbines.

Isn't it? Scary, but

cool.

Jasmin (24:50)

Cool. They never look as big as

they are when you suddenly stood in front of one either. So I can imagine being up there would be a whole nother level. Absolutely. On a Yeah, no thank you. No, me I'm not a heights person. No, absolutely Three steps on a Yeah, good.

Laura (24:59)

Absolutely. On a little rope.

No, me neither. No, absolutely not. Three steps on a ladder. I'm good.

Awesome. Okay, so we're now at the end and I will make sure that in the show notes that the Wickes apprenticeship website is there, media is there and also a link just to connect with to go forward with any interest.

Jasmin (25:11)

Awesome. Okay, so we're now at the and I will make sure that in the show notes that the Wickes apprenticeship website is social media is and also a link just to connect or to go forward with any interest.

Amazing. I'll share our, we've got like an apprenticeship inbox that we send all inquiries to as well. So I will share that with you. And listeners have got any interest, can ping us an email and we'll get in touch. Amazing. Well, thank you ever so It's been really interesting learning more about what you offer at I hope many of the listeners get in touch.

Laura (25:41)

Amazing. Well, thank you ever so much, It's been really interesting learning more about what you offer at Wickes. And I hope many of the listeners get in touch.

Jasmin (25:52)

Thank you so much for having us. You're welcome. Speak soon. Speak to you soon. Bye bye.

Laura (25:53)

You're welcome. Speak soon.