Gowercroft Joinery Level 3 apprentice, Greg Kasowicz (aged 23, from Sutton-in-Ashfield), was named BWF Trainee of the Year 2016 by the British Woodworking Federation. This prestigious accolade recognises exceptional talent and progress in the UK joinery sector. Greg’s award celebrates his pivotal role in improving our production planning and purchasing systems during his apprenticeship.
Greg joined Gowercroft as a sales administration apprentice but quickly made an impression with his attitude and adaptability. As part of his training, he spent time in the production department, where his natural aptitude for systems thinking stood out.
Recognising his potential, we collaborated with Learning Unlimited to tailor Greg’s apprenticeship. The goal? Support his transition into a new, specialised role that would add significant value to the business.
Within months, Greg was working directly with Directors to:
Design and implement a new production planning system
Streamline manufacturing and reduce inefficiencies
Improve customer service by enhancing internal processes
Redesign our purchasing and stock control systems
Take on additional responsibilities in quality control
“The responsibilities I have been given as part of my apprenticeship training, and the people I’m working with, have provided me with many opportunities to learn and gain much-needed experience in business, which will hopefully help me run my own business in the future. Winning this award confirms that hard work breeds success and gives me the confidence to take on more responsibility.”
— Greg Kasowicz
At Gowercroft, we don’t just offer apprenticeships, we build careers from them. Managing Director Andrew Madge said:
“We’re thrilled that Greg has won this award. He has made a significant impact on the business, and he truly deserves this recognition for the drive and commitment he has shown since joining us. It is fantastic that we have been able to take this flexible approach to adapt his apprenticeship programme, working to his strengths and filling a gap in our organisation. That’s why we love apprenticeships as a way to develop our workforce.”
Greg received his award during the BWF Annual Dinner on 4th October 2016, hosted at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham and presented by Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards. It was a memorable night for the Gowercroft team. We were also shortlisted in the Technical Excellence category for our work at Juergen Teller’s award-winning photographic studio.
If you’re interested in joining our award-winning team or finding out more about how we support apprenticeships and training, get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you!