Trio of chosen ones embark on a promising career

Three more young graduates aiming for a promising career have joined Gripple, Sheffield’s manufacturer of the iconic wire fastener, after winning through the employee-owned company’s annual graduate training scheme.

The full-time, permanent employees are now following an intensive 18-month training programme which rotates them around the business, undertaking key projects in operations, sales, marketing, people and culture and accounts. Each initial project is not necessarily linked to their specialised area to take them out of their comfort zone.

Rachel Atkinson, 22 is from Hertfordshire, gained her degree in German and Dutch at Sheffield University. Rachel spent a year in the Netherlands, has taught English to children in Austria and had a customer support internship at Bloomberg Software. Given her language skills Rachel is beginning with Gripple’s UK internal sales team.

Twenty-three-year-old Tasha Lyth, who is from Grantham, graduated from Leicester’s De Montfort University with a business and management degree. She was encouraged to study for a degree by her previous employer in Peterborough after joining as an apprentice production administration assistant. At Gripple Tasha is firstly specialising in operations.

Completing this year’s trio of new graduates is 22-year-old Cody Wale from Chesterfield, joining Gripple with an accounting degree gained at the University of Central Lancashire. His degree exempts him from the first stages of CIMA which he intends to study further whilst working at Gripple. Initially Cody is working with the Gripple accountancy team.

In support of the company’s ethos of giving back to the community the graduates have been given a team charity challenge and additional skills training such as leadership and commercial awareness. In Spring they will embark on a seven-week expedition in support of a national charity dedicated to establishing sustainable change in challenging environments overseas.

Glenn Bills, who joined Gripple under the graduate scheme in 2012 and is now head of product management, said: “During the selection process these graduates demonstrated their determination to succeed, to challenge convention and to be inquisitive. Once again, Gripple’s management teams and everyone at Gripple are welcoming these qualities, along with their fresh ideas and positive outlook.”

The recruitment process for next year’s group starts later in the autumn with details appearing on the Careers section of the Gripple website.

For further press information please contact Margaret Laver at Proactive PR on 07723 010 752 or margaret@proactivepr.org.uk