Meet The Employer: Williams Jet Tenders

Specialising in jet tenders, Williams builds over 1200 boats a year – a staggering number for a company that started in a garden shed!

Now employing over 135 people, Williams continues to increase their apprentice intake and intends to do so for the foreseeable future.

With OAS just across the road, the ability to have regular contact with their apprentices whilst in training and the access to highly professional and skilled staff, partnering with OAS was an opportunity Williams could not turn down.

Mat Hornsby, Founder & Sales Director of Williams Jet Tenders, told us about his passion for training people and encouraging young people to go into boat building in a location away from the coast. Struggling to get into a career himself when young, Mat aspires to create opportunities: "It's a culture and an ethos within the business that we want to encourage youngsters."

Williams has seen a widespread ripple effect from having apprentices and trainers within the business, as Mat explains, “Williams has a 100% apprentice retention rate and has been able to offer every apprentice a job upon completion – an extremely positive outcome for both the employer and apprentices.”

Anisha Roberts, a current first year apprentice at OAS, said of her experience so far: "I really enjoyed the year at OAS, I think it teaches the core knowledge needed for the work environment. I would recommend an apprenticeship in engineering if you are more of a hands-on type of person and if you love doing new things. It is so broad, you could go anywhere with it, and I have learnt so much I did not even know existed."

Watch the full interview here: