In response to the declining skilled labour market, the company decided to create the Sidey Training Academy and begin an associated Modern Apprenticeship Programme with the intention of growing its workforce and promising long-term security of employment, to those engaged within it.

The event saw Sidey open the doors to its Training Academy to local schools, colleges, and councillors so they can speak with the team about Sidey’s Modern Apprentice Installer programme and how the company supports the Young Persons Guarantee. Tayside Police was also in attendance to conduct a ‘Young Driver Road Safety’ presentation for the apprentices along with the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service will also carried out a ‘Road Safety’ presentation.

Donna Montgomery, Sidey’s community benefits manager, said: “Sidey’s Training academy extends beyond the physical space created next door to our Perth showroom, it encompasses the resources invested every single day in coaching, mentoring, and training our apprentices to become exceptional members of our team.

“Apprentices work towards a level 5 SCQF through vocational training over a 12–18-month period. In tandem, our bespoke Milestones training plan clearly sets out the competencies required to fulfil their role, against which they are assessed monthly, provided with constructive feedback and goals to work towards. Apprentices will regularly spend time in our Feus Road Training Academy, which provides a safe space, in a closely supervised, supportive environment to practice new skills before they are refined on site.”

The Sidey Training Academy building contains timber kits accommodating various styles of windows and doors, with replaceable subframes to allow apprentices to remove & refit repeatedly. There is textured render, cladding, a bay frame, roofline, and hand/power tools to work with. A large television screen and comfortable seating area provides an area for inductions, presentations, and training sessions.

Donna told SCN that Sidey is aiming to adopt a 20% ratio of apprentices to the rest of the team and all will be given a full time role at the company when they are fully qualified. 

“And there’s a keen focus that helps us as well,” she added. “Because we know we’ve been given an outline of around 12 months to put somebody through an apprenticeship. We’ve got that tight timeline because we want to produce workers for the installation team at the end of it. So it’s not that this apprenticeship can be endless and we have all the time in the world to let the apprentices naturally gain the skills by just being in the same environment as our qualified installers. We want to start including them in our business plans as installation teams within two years.”

For apprentice Kieran, that was a key reason for signing up for Sidey’s Academy. He told SCN during the event: “To get told you that you’re going to get a position to keep, a guaranteed job at the end of my training, is great. Each of us will get our own keys to a van and given a chance to contribute to the company. It’s a great opportunity.”

Donna added: “Our apprentices have varied backgrounds varied in their route to employment, and in future, college graduates of Joinery/Carpentry NPA courses. Each apprentice has a drive to succeed and pride in their work, a strong foundation upon which Sidey can build, passing on knowledge accumulated with almost a centuries experience in the fenestration industry.”

Sidey apprentice, James Dickson Jnr, said: “I’m really excited to be taken on by Sidey as an Apprentice and look forward to where the journey takes me. In five years’ time, I would like to be fully qualified & part of my own team.”

Investment in its people is at the heart of Sidey, this extends from employment through to the physical & mental wellbeing of its apprentices and employees. Mentors & Managers care deeply about maintaining a healthy, positive working environment conducive to success.