Dartford-based 8point3 has strengthened its team by awarding an apprenticeship to 19-year-old Annie Jones.
Annie, who lives in Belvedere, also home to 8point3’s own sheet metal plant where its range of bespoke LED lighting for commercial and industrial clients is manufactured, joins the team as Business Administrator.
“I started my engineering life as an apprentice in the Ministry of Defence and believe passionately in the value of such schemes” said Ashley Bateup, Managing Director of 8point3, which operates from Suscon in Dartford.
“My memories of my time as an apprentice are not only of what I learned academically, which stood me in very good stead for my career in business, but also of the people I worked with and learned from, who were all so happy to pass on their experience, knowledge and wisdom.
“I hope we can do the same for Annie and give her a strong grounding to the start of her business career – I am delighted she has joined us. We continue to look for opportunities to recruit young, enthusiastic people who have an appetite to learn.”
Annie, who will be supporting and developing 8point3’s business delivery strategy as part of her new role, attended Bexleyheath School and has always wanted to work in a company that had a focus on new technology.
“I am very excited to have joined 8point3,” she said. “I am quickly learning about what is involved in LED lighting and the benefits it brings in energy and cost savings and the positive impact it can have on reducing an organisation’s carbon footprint. LED represents a new era of lighting and its adoption will become wide-spread across the commercial and industrial sector and will be common place in our homes.
“To be able to work for a company that is at the leading edge of this relatively new and rapidly developing market and help it build its business will, I am sure, provide me with a good business understanding and help me in my future career.”