Succesful Tamworth Furniture Business Praises “First-Class” Service from South Staffordshire College

Prentice Furniture, a well established and flourishing business based in Tamworth, is using South Staffordshire College to provide a bespoke programme of training which it says is contributing directly to profitability.

The company has been manufacturing superior kitchens and furniture for more than 25 years, building its reputation on craftsmanship, attention to detail and the finest natural materials.

Quality of staff is the key ingredient in delivering this approach to the customer and for six years South Staffordshire College has been providing a tailor-made programme of training to the company, from one-to-one based Train to Gain NVQ Level 2 to Fire Marshalling and Manual Handling courses.

Originally introduced to the College through the Tamworth Manufacturers Training Network, Managing Director Tom Prentice is committed to investing in the firm’s twenty or so staff through training and he says it has measurable benefits.

“We have always found the College willing to produce a tailor-made programme to suit our needs.  We have made many friends there over the past six years and our main contact point is Pauline Clarke in the Workforce Development team.  The College has made a significant contribution to our skills levels, which in turn has a direct result on the bottom line.”

South Staffordshire College works with more than a thousand employers both large and small, developing a close working relationship and an understanding of the company’s business.  The College believes this partnership approach enables it to create training programmes directly aligned to the specific needs of each business.

Pauline Clarke is the Business Development Sales Manager in the Workforce Development team and in her view the customer relationship is key to success.

“We take time to understand the company and the people who work in it” she says “and we then create a training programme that matches their requirements.  This is often a mix of practical and academic skills, which we can offer at College or in the workplace, to ensure the minimum disruption to the employer’s business.”

Tom Prentice comments that it’s an approach which works for his business and that it’s a lesson others can learn from too.  “I would certainly recommend South Staffordshire College to other employers” he says, “they provide a first-class service.”

The latest group of newly-qualified Prentice Furniture staff celebrated their success with a presentation event organised by South Staffordshire College at the company’s Tame Valley showroom.  Staff were presented with their certificates as the business looks forward to another successful year.