Interior design firm appoints first apprentice

Birmingham-based interior design specialist, Edward Thomas Interiors, has appointed its first apprentice as 19-year-old Ciaran Dougan joins the firm.

Ciaran will undertake a two-year business administration training programme, working in all areas of the company but initially starting in the warehouse and logistics division.

Working closely with this team, which is led by Stephen Hankin, Ciaran will learn procedures for stock storage, quality control, accepting and managing deliveries, loading furniture ahead of show home installations as well as liaison with the firm’s in-house designers, buyers and stylists.

“I’m so pleased to have been given this opportunity, especially at the moment,” said Ciaran. “There’s a lot of people my age struggling to find work as they just don’t have the skills or knowledge so I’m extremely grateful to be able to start a new career at Edward Thomas Interiors.

“Before this I’d finished my GCSEs and started a trainee role in sports coaching but was soon furloughed. Steve Hankin, my mentor, is a family friend and asked if I would consider some temporary work for a couple of weeks in the summer. That led to the directors offering me a permanent position and I’m proud to be the firm’s first ever apprentice.”

As part of his training, Ciaran will spend time with each division of the business to build up his understanding of the different roles and how they interact. Following completion of this shadowing exercise, Ciaran and his mentors will discuss which areas are of most interest with a view to enrolling on a supplementary academic course.

Director at Edward Thomas Interiors, Steve Hird, said: “Offering apprenticeships is something we’ve considered for a while, in fact one of our fifth birthday pledges was to offer more placement opportunities for local students, so we’re thrilled to have taken this a step further and appointed a full-time apprentice. We believe that now, more than ever, we should help the next generation into the workplace and give them the skills they need to succeed.

“Ciaran’s been such an asset so far - he's approachable, eager to learn and inquisitive, all attributes that will serve him well in his career. We’re looking forward to watching Ciaran develop and are confident he will become a great ambassador for us.”

Edward Thomas Interiors was established in 2015 and works with housebuilders to design, install and craft bespoke showhomes, sales centres, marketing suites and retirement living spaces. 

Pictured: Apprentice Ciaran Dougan (left) is being mentored by Edward Thomas Interiors’ head of warehouse and logistics Steve Hankin