A Gloucestershire-based company is helping school leavers and career changers get into sought-after industries with its comprehensive early careers programme.
Mira Showers is committed to giving individuals the chance to embark on a new career path in a supportive, real-world environment, alongside the training needed to succeed in their role.
As part of its early careers programme, apprentices can benefit from mentoring, opportunities within STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), attendance at Mira’s annual apprentice residential, and a work ‘buddy’ upon starting.
And there are a variety of roles available to suit a range of interests and career paths, from business and marketing to manufacturing and product design.
This year, Mira Showers is looking to recruit Level 3 engineering technicians, Level 4 project managers, and a Level 6 manufacturing degree engineer.
However, even if you have no or limited prior experience in the industry, don’t worry, as Mira Showers will work with you to build and develop your knowledge and skills on the job.
Better yet, regardless of the apprenticeship route taken initially, apprentices are given the opportunity to rotate between departments in their preferred function, enabling them to discover their own interests and strengths, as well as gain a deeper understanding of how the business works as a whole.
An apprenticeship success story
Connor Galling joined Mira Showers as a Level 3 apprentice and, after significant growth and development, moved into a permanent role as an associate engineer within the process quality team.
Funded by the company, Connor continues to study towards his higher national diploma (HND) in dual skilled engineering, as well as being in the process of gaining professional registration with the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Connor said: “The apprenticeship provided opportunities to rotate around various engineering disciplines across the business, enabling me to build both my manufacturing knowledge and cross-functional team rapport.
“It also allowed me to build sound product knowledge, which opened the door for me to move into this new role where product and test knowledge is pivotal.”
After personally benefitting from Mira Showers’ early careers offering, Connor expressed the desire to pay it forward and support the programme for others in the future.
He added: “I would really like to give back to a programme that works to inspire development and success in each apprentice. I am keen to provide my support and experiences to aid new apprentices while also making Mira apprenticeships visible to local school pupils as a favourable option post-studies.”
Valuable opportunities on offer
In addition to on-the-job training and colleague support, Mira apprentices benefit from various other initiatives and exercises.
This includes the opportunity for apprentices to organise an activity week or overnight residential to welcome new starters on induction week and bring learners together for an annual team-building event, helping to further their project management skills.
Business apprentice Cameron Richter shared: “This year, I led a team in planning and organising activities for the week, from creating the activity schedule to managing the logistics. We faced new challenges, but it was a great opportunity to ensure the week was engaging and aligned with the goal of team-building and breaking the ice for new apprentices.
“The process allowed me to develop and apply key project management skills. I worked closely with stakeholders, handled communication between teams, and took charge of budgeting to ensure everything stayed on track financially – which has all helped me cover important parts of my project management portfolio.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at Mira Showers, especially this leadership role. Experiences like these have been amazing in helping me develop my skill sets and understanding of project management, boosting my confidence and knowledge.”
Personal and professional development
But it doesn’t end there. Mira Showers takes responsibility for its impact on its associates, the community and the planet seriously, discussing this in great detail in its annual ESG report.
The company’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are a critical component of this – and also help to create a culture of inclusion that helps all associates reach their full potential – both personally and professionally.
Engineering apprentice Kat Payne said: “Alongside my training and work, I take part in additional activities including the Pride BRG, which looks to shine a light on the struggles of those within the LGBTQIA+ community. As part of the community myself, I feel deeply about this, and want to raise awareness of the community and the challenges it still faces today.
“While working with the BRG, I have helped to plan and run recruitment and Pride initiatives; most notably, two Pride In Gloucester events where I helped to set up a photo booth and a giveaway.”
Mira Showers also actively encourages apprentices to enter competitions to celebrate and recognise their efforts and contributions to the business.
One business apprentice, Luca Stephens commented: “During my rotation in customer service, I was nominated for ‘Hero of the Year’ at the South West Contact Centre Awards 2024.
“I led a project on call centre systems, implementing changes that influence daily business decisions. Without its success, an outage would have prevented us from assisting our customers. As an apprentice, I didn’t expect to lead such a crucial project, let alone be nominated for an award.
“Mira values apprentices, and their support makes me feel like a true part of the team.”
Recently, Mira has also had three early careers winners at the BMA 30 under 30 awards: finance apprentice manager Millie Hurd-Sutton, business apprentice graduate Yasmin Carpmael, and engineering apprentice graduate Sam Trower.
Find out more
If you’re interested in pursuing an apprenticeship at Mira Showers, the company is holding open evenings on November 28, 2024, and January 16, 2025.
Applications to the early careers programme will open on November 28.
