How making a commitment to sustainability is reaping rewards and driving up skills.
Apleona UK, part of the global Apleona Group, provides integrated facilities management. It is experienced in providing a full range of hard and soft services for both private and public sector organisations, including pharmaceutical and manufacturing sites, educational establishments, critical environments, commercial offices, research and development campuses and more.
Apleona prides itself on working closely with their clients, lowering energy consumption in their properties and reducing their carbon footprints, as well as ensuring any waste is minimised and well segregated. Through Apleona’s services, it ensures that its approach reflects its commitment to sustainability, innovation and digitisation.
In Wales alone, Apleona has facility management contracts with a number of clients including a large manufacturing site in Magor. On this site, Apleona is responsible for office management, catering, cleaning, maintenance and waste management.
Sustainability is at the heart of the site’s operations, with waste management a significant priority.
James Walker, Technical Facility Manager, says:
"Our key focus on the site has been to minimise waste and save precious resources by reusing items where possible. We are also making a lot of effort to ensure that all recyclable waste is segregated and diverting as much as possible away from incineration and landfill.
"We recognise our role in offering opportunities for employment and professional development and are very pleased to have a number of apprentices at the Magor site, and we are looking to take on another three imminently. The apprenticeships are delivered in partnership with Cardiff and Vale College and specialise in Sustainable Resource Management."
One of the apprentices is Hannah Lloyd who started working at Apleona in 2020 and has since taken up the apprenticeship at the site.
Hannah says:
"I feel passionate about sustainability. I’m undertaking a BSc in Environmental Science (Management and Technology) with the Open University in conjunction with this apprenticeship. It's a great place to work. I'm supported by Apleona to gain valuable knowledge and experience in this exciting field of sustainability. I'm a member of the Company's Sustainability Committee, I support the Energy Champions working group where I learn about energy management and I have been given training on waste legislation. I'd like to make difference through my job and help Apleona, our client and Wales on their journey to become Net Zero."
Apleona’s commitment to sustainability sits in tandem with that of its client which has committed to 100% recyclable packaging. Once purchased and used, the client’s key products can be returned to the site and reused. It’s a great example of how Wales will transition to a circular economy.
Of course, the focus on waste management is having a significant impact on jobs and skills.
James explains:
“Historically, jobs in waste management weren’t seen as high value careers. The apprenticeship training shows how waste management benefits local areas and in turn benefits the world. Our apprentices understand the difference they can make.
"Waste management is certainly becoming a more skilled role. Something we’re likely to see in the future at Magor is computer systems that help us predict trends in our waste and that will also require training and upskilling."
Apleona is also helping its client to lessen its carbon footprint and recently recommended artificial intelligence technology to minimise any energy losses, which has the potential to reduce energy use by up to 30 per cent.
James says:
"Magor is an exciting place to be. Here, we are seeing a business in Wales at the very forefront of tackling climate change, and our apprentices are experiencing this first hand."
To find out more please head to the Apleona website.
For more information about recruiting an apprentice, visit apprenticeships genius decision website or call 03000 603 000.