Name: Paige Goulden
Company: Foams4Sports
Apprenticeship: Sewing Machinist Level 2

After a successful work experience period on a Traineeship programme with NLTG, Paige was eager to start working full time, and so snapped up the opportunity to progress onto a full time Sewing Machinist Level 2 Apprenticeship when it was offered to her at Foams4Sports.

As a Sewing Machinist, Paige’s role consists of using two different machines, a flat bed and a walking foot. She uses these machines to make variety of products in all different shapes and sizes, such as crash matts, dog beds and body bags.

Paige says the one thing she enjoys the most about completing her qualification is working with different people from both NLTG and Foams4Sports – “They’re a great support system. They don’t just come and see you for work, they also check how you’re doing and are there for you around the clock”.

Since working at Foams4Sports, Paige has grown immensely in confidence and believes that although she is the youngest employee within the company, working with people older and with more experience has helped her to grow up. The job has also helped to improve her personal skills, such as timekeeping. When Paige started her Traineeship at Foams4Sports, she was getting three buses to work every day and never failed to arrive on time.

Tony, the Managing Director at Foams4Sports, said, “I have seen a massive change in Paige’s personality and confidence since she started working here. Her dedication to her work, including the distance she travelled to get here initially, is unrivalled, not a lot of young people show the same commitment. We’re very proud of how far she’s come and look forward to seeing her develop further.”

Moving forward Paige would love to progress more within the industry and work on bigger projects. Paige said, “to do an Apprenticeship you have to be dedicated, it’s not all about the money, it’s more important that you have a job that you enjoy. Doing a Traineeship is also a great way of trialling the job before deciding to make a full commitment to it.”