The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Spalding businessman says he was “hurt” by allegations made by two former apprentices in a Channel 4 investigative documentary shown on Monday.
Activ Staffing and Support, which is based in Spalding, was singled out alongside national chain Next in Dispatches’ Low Pay Britain episode, which looked at the value offered by apprenticeships to young people.
It featured two previous Activ Staffing and Support marketing apprentices and highlighted their complaints of low pay, demeaning work and inadequate training.
Activ Staffing and Support company director Matt Clark said: “The claims surprised me, especially as the experiences described on the show were very different from the feedback given to us in appraisals during the time of their employment, and furthermore in the thank you notes sent to managers and team upon leaving the company.
“I believe the company offers significant value to apprentices.
“We are proud that every apprentice who has successfully completed a qualification with us has been offered a permanent role with the company.
“I am upset that the producers of the show chose to include these interviews, despite accepting that there were substantial factual inaccuracies.
“It is disappointing that the show chose not to report on some of the many success stories that the scheme has delivered in recent years, and whilst I offered to respond to the claims in a filmed interview, this offer was rejected.
“Despite this disheartening story, we remain passionate about the apprenticeship scheme.
“We believe it to be a credible way of encouraging young people into not just work but into a career.”
