Holiday giant Hoseasons has underlined its commitment to Lowestoft once more as they look to recruit talented youngsters from the area.
The Lowestoft-based firm – one of the UK's leading self-catering accommodation specialists – is looking to take on three new apprentices within their IT teams, and is also currently recruiting Business Development Manager roles as part of its growth plans.
The company started on an Oulton Broad boatyard owned by Wally Hoseason in the 1940s and has sold an ever-expanding portfolio of holidays from its Sunway House headquarters in Raglan Road for many years. With Hoseasons using apprenticeships as one of their core methods of recruitment, they have worked in partnership with Lowestoft College to train the youngsters over the past 18 months. This has led to 14 active apprentices, who are currently working through the business, which employs more than 270 people – meaning it remains one of Lowestoft's main employers.
Matt Smith, Head of HR at Hoseasons, said: 'We continue to work with Lowestoft College as it ensures we recruit high calibre students and train them in the specific skills that we need. We are now looking to recruit three additional apprentice roles as the business is embarking on a Web Development Apprentice programme, one of the first in the area.'
Hoseasons is looking for two web developers and one web designer – with all three roles to undertake an 18-month extensive programme that is specifically tailored to the business and the technologies it uses and needs. The firm is also recruiting Business Development Managers to cater for customer demand.
'This is really positive news,' Mr Smith said. 'It has been another strong start to the year, with record sales, and the apprentices have all grown with the business and will continue to be an important part of our future.'
Since the start of 2015/16 Hoseasons has recruited 22 apprentices on three separate programmes – with the majority aged between 16 and 25. Former apprentices Sam Hubbard, 17, and Tom Annis, 22, were chosen ahead of dozens of other hopefuls as Hoseasons' first digital design apprentices in 2015. Now they are campaign designers within the business. Mr Hubbard said: 'It has been amazing. I have grown a lot and it has been a great learning curve.' Mr Annis added: 'I can genuinely say that I love my job.'
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