At Trifast we are proud to support Apprenticeship Week by empowering our people to upskill and gain valuable qualifications through the government apprenticeship levy scheme*.

Katie Watson, TR's head of Tax is leading two of our finance apprentices:

Having mentored individuals in the past, Katie understands the value of this type of learning and development and is a strong advocate of it.

She says: “The Apprenticeship Scheme offers a support mechanism to enable trainees to acquire skills above and beyond their professional qualification. The structured off-the-job training ensures trainees have manager support to spend time actively seeking learning opportunities that are not directly linked to their day-to-day work.

In the ever-changing business environment employees need to be up to date with the latest legislation, trends, and technologies and thinking outside the box is a skill in itself. The Apprenticeship Scheme is a great way to encourage a culture of learning and development which not only unlocks potential for individuals but benefits the whole organisation”

*NB: the apprenticeship levy can only be used for employees in the UK – so we can’t offer this globally

Published 10.02.2025

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Nami Noorbakhsh, Financial Reporting Accountant based in Uckfield, about his time so far with the company

Apprenticeship Course:

Accountancy Professional, Level 7

How long have you been with the company?

I have been with the company since May 2024.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

I wanted to expand my manufacturing experience as I’ve already gained 3.5 years of experience in my previous job and I’m looking to further expand my knowledge and experience within this particular sector.  

Can you describe a typical working day? 

Processing invoices, analysing the bank position for our payment runs, dealing with Ad-Hoc queries.

What’s your favourite aspect of the role?

My favourite aspect of the role is being able to view the broader side of finance. Understanding the financial position of the company and how far are we with our financial targets.

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

Always be open and transparent, if you get stuck or if you’re not sure of anything, make sure you ask for help. Work together as a team and if you make a mistake, that’s ok, just bounce back and correct the mistake. Make sure that you’re all prepared and study hard, because if you fail to prepare, then that means you’re prepared to fail. 

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

TR Fastenings is a major global company; would you like to gain experience working in a different department or location one day? 

I would like to have a one-day experience of working in a different department which in turn would help increase my commercial business knowledge as I think this would be important to understand how the business operates.

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

Once my apprenticeship is completed, I’m looking to be a manager in finance where I would like to have my own team to pass on my knowledge and experience, teaching them what I’ve learnt throughout my career, plus providing support and guidance.

What is something you are particularly proud of that you have developed/worked on in your role? 

Being involved with the Half-Year and Year End procedure where I assist with finalising the figures for the financial position of the company relating to the financial year. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that you’ve played a part in preparing the annual report for the announcement to the public & investors.

Published 10.02.2025

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to James Waldock, Central Services Financial Co-ordinator based in Uckfiled, about his time so far with the company

Apprenticeship Course:

Assistant Accountant, Level 3

How long have you been with the company?

I have been with the company since November 2018.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

I first joined the finance team through work experience. Since then, I have learnt many aspects of the day-to-day finance roles.  

Can you describe a typical working day? 

Managing the accounts for Trifast Overseas Holdings Ltd. This includes, payments, processing invoices, managing cash flow and some management accounting.

What’s your favourite aspect of the role? 

Managing all the central operational expenses. I also love the people I work with. We have a great finance team within Trifast and across the business.

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

Apprenticeships are a great way to gain real life experience within a company as well as being able to study and further your knowledge within a certain sector.

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

TR Fastenings is a major global company; would you like to gain experience working in a different department or location one day? 

 I would love to learn more about the treasurer role and managing group cash. 

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

After the apprenticeship, I would like to either further my education by taking the next course or progress in my current job role.

What is something you are particularly proud of that you have developed/worked on in your role? 

Helping develop Trifast Overseas Holdings to where it is today. TOSH only went fully live in April 24 and to be able to have a full set of accounts is very pleasing.

Published 10.02.2025

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Joshua Young, Sourcing Coordinator based in Waterside Park, about his time so far with the company

How long have you been with the company?

I have been with the company since August 2019.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

This is an exciting and developing industry that holds a lot of opportunities for young people. TR Fastenings is an excellent company that supports development of its staff and its apprenticeship schemes.  

Can you describe a typical working day? 

A typical working day consists of various challenges which keeps the role interesting and varied. Enquiries that arrive are each different in their own way meaning there is always new obstacles to overcome. Working as a team and communicating with stakeholders is another key aspect of the role. My role consists of securing prices from suppliers and observing drawings customers have provided. This entails having good relationships with our suppliers to secure these competitive costs. This also includes query resolving, where a certain item may not have enough information on the part, this can include requesting more detail such as material, additional dimensions, and any plating that may be required.

What’s your favourite aspect of the role? 

My favourite aspect of the role is overcoming challenges and achieving the goal required. This goal can be achieving competitive costs for a customer, meeting target prices, and aligning with the sales team to complete a quote by a certain time. I also love communicating with stakeholders and working as a team. 

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

Be willing to learn all aspects of the role, this includes basics such as suitable email communication to advanced product learning. Always investigate courses that TR offers such as product training and procurement functions.

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

TR Fastenings is a major global company; would you like to gain experience working in a different department or location one day? 

Yes, there are many opportunities available in my role and I am open to new opportunities and challenges.

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

Further advancing my role and taking on more challenging aspects of the job.

What is something you are particularly proud of that you have developed/worked on in your role? 

I am proud of gaining knowledge that helped with a larger understanding of the procurement function. This has helped me with my decision making and in turn supported the team. I am also proud of being more confident when communicating with stakeholders.

Published 07.02.2024

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Tiago Lopes, Group HR Advisor based in Uckfield, about his time so far with the company

How long have you been with the company?

I have been with the company for 2 years in May 2024.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

The role in HR looked like a great opportunity and TR had a good reputation as an employer.  

Can you describe a typical working day? 

There is no such thing as a typical day in HR. People come to us for all kinds of advice and for employee relations guidance. There is a certain amount of paperwork involved and signposting people in the right direction and generally offering them support. My role covers recruitment, employee relations, information and guidance and health and wellbeing.

What’s your favourite aspect of the role? 

Helping and supporting people. I really enjoy being able to make a difference and being a support to people. It’s also exciting to bring new people into the business.

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

Get involved in as much as you can. Speak to as many people in as many different departments so you can see things from a different perspective and most importantly be approachable and open-minded.

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

TR Fastenings is a major global company; would you like to gain experience working in a different department or location one day? 

I would really like the opportunity to work in some of our global locations, to gain an insight into their culture and way of working.

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

I would like to practise what I have learnt on my course and then move on to the next level.

What is something you are particularly proud of that you have developed/worked on in your role? 

I have had a great experience working in the warehouse at our new National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Birmingham. Working with different people throughout the business and all at different levels has really helped to build my confidence on a personal and professional level. It has made me less afraid to approach people and ask questions. I realise that all people enjoy talking to you and helping you if you are honest and approachable. It’s been a great team effort working at our NDC.

Published 07.02.2024

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Rebecca Rutter, Global Head of HR Analytics based in Uckfield, about her time so far with the company

How long have you been with the company?

I have been with the company for 13 years.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

TR Fastenings had a good reputation as a local employer with a focus on developing their people.  

Can you describe a typical working day? 

A typical working day is that no two days are the same, my role is about supporting the business and providing insightful data.

What’s your favourite aspect of the role? 

Being able to find solutions to peoples queries and by providing data to support this.

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

Take all opportunities that come your way, including training and development, and to be open to new ways of working.

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

Increased confidence within my role and the ability to provide training to other employees within the department.

What is something you are particularly proud of that you have developed/worked on in your role? 

Launching a number of successful projects into the business that provide support for our people, making their jobs easier.
 

Published 07.02.2024

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Andrew Parry, Assistant Group Accountant based in Uckfield, about his time so far with the company

How long have you been with the company?

I have been with the company for 14 months.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

They are an essential part in manufacturing for a huge variety of goods throughout multiple industries.  

Can you describe a typical working day? 

Collection, manipulation, and analysis of data.

What’s your favourite aspect of the role? 

Global exposure to businesses with a variety of size and strategies.

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

Spend time learning the company’s values and vision and look for as many relevant training opportunities to improve your skillsets even further. 

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

• The employee will have access to extensive training and experience which can improve their professional development, and will often lead to clear, structured progression
• The employer has access to these motivated individuals who are looking to expand their skillsets and can tailor these to company specific needs/scenarios, which provides additional value across the business

TR Fastenings is a major global company; would you like to gain experience working in a different department or location one day? 

Having the ability through TR Fastenings to move locations and departments is an exciting prospect, and if the opportunity was right, I would welcome the move. 

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

Moving into a fully qualified finance position, and then continuing progression within the finance/accounting field.

Published 07.02.2022

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Kainat Iqbal, Group Assistant Accountant based in Uckfield, about her time so far with the company

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Jessica D'Silva, Marketing Administrator based in Uckfield, about her time so far with the company

How long have you been with the company?

Almost 4 years, I joined in March 2018.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

It was an industry that I had never worked in before, and I was intrigued to discover how we could market this type of industry, having previously worked more with agencies and B2C.

Can you describe a typical working day? 

My day will start by clearing any customer enquiries we have had into our sales inboxes over night, then I check our social platforms, making sure any messages, comments and mentions have been responded to. Throughout my day, I monitor social media and our customer enquiries.

During my day I will look for inspiration we can then utilise in our social media, create social media posts, any administrative tasks required, send out any relevant reports, general website maintenance and social media.

Also, looking into my coursework tasks, and completing these!

What’s your favourite aspect of the role? 

Being able to work with a great team, create new ideas and manage our social media.

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

Be confident and don’t be afraid to share any ideas you have with your team.

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

I believe that apprenticeships enable a great way to learn and this means that you are able to implement what you have learnt and utilise this within the workplace.

TR Fastenings is a major global company; would you like to gain experience working in a different department or location one day? 

I love marketing and I feel it gives us the opportunity to be creative and collaborate with other departments within the business. It’s nice to make a difference.

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

I am excited to be able to have a lot of new knowledge that I can display and use within my role.

Published 07.02.2022

Celebrating Apprenticeship Week TR talks to Jessica D'Silva, Marketing Assistant based in Uckfield, about her time so far with the company

How long have you been with the company?

I will have been at the company 5 years next month.

What made you want to join the fastener industry?

The fastener industry was an industry that I had never worked in before, I was intrigued to learn how we could market this type of industry, having previously worked closer with agencies and in a B2C environment.

Can you describe a typical working day? 

What’s your favourite aspect of the role? 

Being able to work with a great team, researching and creating new ideas for our social media messaging and supporting imagery whilst managing our social media accounts and seeing the positive growth that have been generated organically.

What advice would you give to a new starter now? 

It is always a little daunting starting somewhere new, but at TR everyone is very welcoming and always here to help! Don’t be afraid to be creative and share your ideas with your team.

Not every company provides an apprenticeship scheme – how do you feel this process helps both the employee and the employer?

TR Fastenings is a major global company; would you like to gain experience working in a different department or location one day? 

I love working in our department, I have always worked in Marketing! My role gives me the opportunity to be creative and collaborate with other departments within the business. 

What are the prospects after completing your apprenticeship? 

My job title has now changed to Marketing Assistant from Marketing Administrator, and I am looking forward to applying my expanded skillset to my role and further developing these. 

What is something you are particularly proud of that you have developed/worked on in your role? 

Published 07.02.2023

In 2014 Annie Wyld spent two weeks interning at TR Fastenings in Uckfield. She joined TR’s Marketing department and participated as a full member of the team, reporting into the Head of Marketing, Abi Burnett

Fast-forward four years, and she has just graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a degree in Marketing. 

Abi comments, “We really enjoyed having Annie working with us at TR. She was fully immersed in the experience in order to give her a good flavour of what we do, specifically within the Marketing department. She handled the work brilliantly and showed true potential. Developing future talent is one of our fundamental visions at TR; it is paramount that we assist in cultivating the leaders of the future, as having the best people will ensure our competitive edge stays intact. Annie was a great asset to the team and we congratulate her on her recent graduation."

At TR Fastenings we are really proud to champion young engineering talent. We have long recognised the need for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills across many aspects of our business, not just in the ‘traditional’ engineering departments

In this blog, we will share our experience of nurturing interest amongst young people to embark on STEM careers and in particular, the schemes and apprenticeships we are proud to run in our business.

What are STEM skills and why are they so important?

The rapid growth of high-tech jobs and a lack of uptake in STEM education in recent years, particularly by girls (a government report highlights that only 8% of STEM apprenticeships are undertaken by women) have combined to cause a massive shortfall in the young people suitable and available for STEM roles. This is bad news for our economy.

Why are STEM skills so important? STEM education is vital for critical thinking skills which are fundamental to innovation and business success. It’s not just the tech and engineering sectors that need employees with a STEM education.

The manufacturing, R&D, financial services, medicine and healthcare sectors and more rely on young people choosing STEM career pathways. In fact, critical thinking skills are essential for innovation across almost all industries.

TR Fastenings gets involved in Sussex Big Bang Fair

We were delighted to be involved in the recent STEM Sussex Big Bang Fair South East. Two TR employees, Luke Murphy, HR Manager and Keith Gibb, Head of Web Development, were judges at the event to select finalists from heats for the Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineer Awards.

The event, now in its seventh year, aims to inspire young people to study STEM courses and pursue STEM careers. The Mid Sussex Times reported that more than ten thousand young people from 250 schools attended the annual event.

Luke Murphy said, “This event is more important now than ever before. Technology around the globe is changing at such a rapid pace. We need to engage young people in STEM subjects, not only to address the current skills gap, but to ensure UK businesses are able to compete on the world stage in the future. The importance of nurturing upcoming talent has never been more pressing.”

Our apprenticeships

It sounds dramatic but the world would be a very different place without STEM. We need STEM to make a difference and to stay competitive in business and as a nation.

It’s why we believe so passionately in investing in young people. Our two-year apprenticeship schemes offer school leavers an alternative route into a STEM career with TR Fastenings. Young people with a GCSE pass in Maths and English, who have an enthusiasm for business, good communication skills and an aptitude for learning, are invited to apply.

We also offer NVQ training in business administration and customer services.

The future: what else needs to be done?

In 2015, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills reported that 43% of STEM vacancies were hard to fill. The skills gap has improved but there is still much work to be done by government, schools and business.

Encouraging and nurturing interest among children and young people is vital from an early age. This relies on educational policy, parents and collaboration between businesses and schools. Diversity across genders and ages also needs addressing. Supporting key influencers, (teachers, carers and parents), to help young people access STEM pathways is key.

Our young people are crucial for pushing the boundaries, making new discoveries and influencing the future of our business. STEM is the future and we’re really proud to be helping young people be part of it.

Published 16.08.2019

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