Apprentice of the Year Cerys is a credit to team Kestrel

Fascia and cladding manufacturer Kestrel’s commitment to staff developing is paying off for the brand and its people. Just two years after winning apprentice of the year for her work in customer service, Kestrel’s Cerys Coy is studying again, this time for her accountancy exams.

Cerys, who was recognised for her commitment to her apprenticeship in 2021, is developing a strong overview of different parts of the business, having initially moved from customer service into the planning department.

Cerys explains: “Moving to the planning department help me understand more about the processes around manufacturing, which gave me a different perspective on the business.

“Then I was offered the opportunity to take on the role of credit control, to cover for someone going on maternity leave, and I hesitated as it was something completely different to what I have done before.

“However, after thinking it through, I realised my previous customer service experience would work hand-in-hand with this new job role and decided to go for it.”

Next opportunity

In her current role as Credit Controller, Cerys is working towards her Level 2 AAT qualification, and is already considering her where her next opportunity may lie after developing an interest in data analysis.

She adds: “It meant a lot to me to win the apprentice of the year award. I was quite confident that the work I was doing was up to a high standard, but the award confirmed that my hard work and dedication was being noticed by others, which gave me a huge boost.

“I definitely think the award helped me develop my career because other managers within the business saw what I was capable of and took a chance on me to work in other departments and expand my knowledge with them.”

Kestrel sales and marketing director Owen Thorogood praised Cerys’ attitude and commitment, saying: “Apprenticeships are an important part of our future focus at Kestrel, and we are proud of the opportunities we are able to offer to people joining our team.

“Cerys is a shining example of how someone can seize an opportunity and build a rewarding career, we can’t wait to see what she does next.”

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