We’re proud to introduce our first ever Sales Apprentices who are working out of our iconic head office in Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building.
Tom, Eve and Ruby joined our brand-new scheme on January 8th and are settling in well.
Over the course of their three-year apprenticeship they will combine studying for a degree in Business to Business Sales through Middlesex University while receiving hands-on experience in our brilliant Sales team with the support of our HR and Learning and Development team.
Channel Controller Lindsey Garland said: “We’re delighted to welcome Tom, Eve and Ruby to Princes.
“They’ve each been given a different Sales team to work in and will be busy over the coming weeks and months learning about the business and our products, shadowing our account managers and attending internal and customer meetings.
“Over the course of their apprenticeship they will rotate through the different Sales departments and, after three years, become really well rounded salespeople.”
Tom Marray, 18, who did A’Levels in psychology, PE and English Literature at Calday Grange Grammar School has joined the Sales team for Aldi and Lidl.
He said: “I’ve had part time jobs since I was 14 and always liked the idea of starting my career at 18 instead of going to university. Learning on the job in combination with studying part time for a degree makes complete sense to me.
“I really enjoyed Princes’ recruitment process. The assessment centre was brilliant, good fun and engaging and there were lots of people there all with different skills. Antonia from Internal Recruitment called me shortly after I got home to offer me a job.
“The first few weeks in the role have been packed with information and meetings to give the three of us a really good insight into the job. We’ve all been on store visits, to Bradford to see our carbonated and soft drinks production, and we’ve even made our own drinks in the NPD laboratory.
“I now walk round my local supermarket noticing loads of things I wouldn’t have spotted before from how products are displayed to the promotions on offer. It’s all very exciting.”
Ruby Reed, 19, who completed A’Levels in Drama, Film Studies and Sociology at Upton Hall School on the Wirral is part of the Development Team at Princes working with high street discounters.
She said: “I was weighing up whether to go to University to study Drama or to kick on with my career when I spotted the Sales Apprenticeship on social media, applied and was offered the job.
“Lots of my mates have gone off to Uni but I’m glad to be cracking on with work while also studying and earning. I feel like I’m in a good position.
“I’ve never worked in sales and there’s lots to take in but it’s great being in a team. I love the structure and the chance to rotate.
“I’m amazed by how many brands Princes produces – it’s not just tuna and orange juice! One of my favourite brands is Branston Baked Beans – we’re a big Branston family.”
Eve Wilkinson, 19, has joined the Sales team for Sainsbury’s. She completed her A’Levels in Business, Design Technology and Media at Weatherhead High School in Wallasey in June 2023.
Eve said: “I love how everyone has made us feel part of the team and not the new ones. I already feel like I’ve been working at Princes for a while.
“It’s amazing to be part of such a big organisation which has state-of-the-art food and drink production sites across the world.
“I’m pretty hands on and so I’m really enjoying learning on the job instead of racking up lots of debt with three years at university. It’s fun getting to know Ruby and Tom too. We had a drink after our induction meeting and we’re planning to get together on days we’re doing our course work.”
More information on the scheme can be found here.