Handing on the Tradition

Craft-based industries like furniture-making traditionally ensured skills and knowledge passed seamlessly from one generation to the next through apprenticeships. Young hopefuls would work under the guidance of a master craftsman, learning every stage of the process from raw materials to the finished product. 

By today’s standards, these apprenticeships were more akin to indentured servitude than a structured training programme. Apprentices were bound to a single master and his workshop for five to seven years, often under conditions of harsh discipline and unquestioning obedience, learning by observation, absorption, patience and practice. Before setting up on their own account, many then spent further years as journeymen, paid by the day and moving between workshops, towns or regions to broaden their skills, through experience of different local materials, techniques, styles and approaches. 

Happily, we’ve moved on from that, but modern apprenticeships retain the essence of the traditional model: perfecting a highly skilled craft on the job with support from experienced colleagues and mentors. Our programme combines hands-on learning on the shop floor with formal training and professional development, in which we train our apprentices not only to master their own role, but also to appreciate exactly how it fits into the overall production process. It’s vital that everyone understands that what they do and how they do it directly affects everyone else, especially when it comes to maintaining quality. 

“I enjoy learning on the job and being challenged.  You are encouraged to figure things out yourself, but everybody is very supportive and there’s always someone around to help if you get stuck — they don’t just leave you on your own!”

Malaki - Machinery Apprentice

We’re proud that today we have apprentices from a wide variety of backgrounds, some enjoyed practical subjects at school and found themselves naturally drawn to careers where they can work with their hands. Some decided they didn’t want to follow a conventional academic route post-16; and others simply want to learn something entirely new. What they share is a love of using tools and materials to make beautiful, enduring objects, boundless determination and, above all, a willingness to practice, make mistakes and keep learning.

This diversity benefits our business in important ways. Each apprentice brings their own personality, curiosity, creativity and insight to our company, and leaves their own mark. Just as they learn from their long-serving colleagues, so we learn from their fresh ideas, wider perspectives and different life experiences. They challenge assumptions, inspire new ways of thinking and help us balance tradition with innovation, so our craft keeps evolving with the times. 

We see apprenticeships as more than just a vocational training. For us, it’s a living link to the past, and an investment in our future. These talented young people will become the world-class craftspeople, technicians, managers and leaders who will shape ercol and its products in the decades to come. By learning not just how our furniture is made, but why we make it the way we do, they become the custodians of our unique design language, upholding the principles that give ercol its timeless appeal. It’s an exacting but rewarding process, for them and us. And it ensures our future is in the best possible hands. 

For more information on apprenticeships offered at ercol, visit our apprenticeship page.