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The NYEs way: how we develop our exceptional staff

The NYEs way: how we develop our exceptional staff

Ever since David Nye established D.W. Nye Builders Merchant – now known as NYEs Building Supplies – back in 1985, we’ve always prided ourselves on our good reputation. Key to this has been our excellent commitment to customers and our connection to the local area of Sussex and Surrey. It has always been the NYEs way to go the extra mile in whatever we do, whether that means spending time supporting our customers, ensuring we carry more than sufficient stock levels, or providing charity funding to local groups to help with building projects.

Of course, this approach would not be possible without the hard work and commitment of our exceptional staff. As with any company worth mentioning, it’s the people that make the place, and we’re proud to say we have some of the best in the business. To be part of the NYEs family, not only do you have to know your stuff when it comes to building, you have to have the right approach. That means giving every customer the royal treatment, regardless of whether they’re after a handful of screws, a truckload of timber, or just a chat and some advice.

To support our staff in their efforts, we do our utmost to provide them with the tools - both literally and figuratively - they need to do the best job they can. We offer training, set goals for them to achieve, and reward good work where we see it.

Another way in which we aim to grow our staff is through our apprenticeship scheme. One recent beneficiary of this programme was local Crawley lad, Mark Coleman. Mark, who was 16 at the time, found the apprenticeship through the Crawley College website, and following a successful interview with our Managing Director, Rex Nye, joined NYEs Building Supplies to begin his learning.

The one-year Level 2 Warehouse Operative course offered the chance to learn the ins and outs of a supply chain warehouse through on-the-job training combined with assignments and college-based workshops. “It was just like a full time job, but with some homework,” says Mark. “On a typical working day at NYEs I would be picking tickets for orders, serving customers, and helping them look for the right products. From time to time my teacher at Crawley College would pop in to see what I’d been up to and set me an assignment.”

These assignments required Mark to undertake research into aspects of the company and present what he’d learned in a report. He also attended monthly workshops at the college that covered subjects such as behaviour at work and different ways to approach tasks.

This occupational-based learning proved useful for Mark. “It was great to be doing something different every day,” he says. “Obviously there was the day-to-day running of a builders’ merchant, but on top of that I got to use a variety of machinery, and I’m now licensed to drive forklifts and excavators. I also picked up a good working knowledge of construction, which has been really useful for my job.”

Now aged 18, Mark is qualified and has been with us for two years, during which time he’s become a valuable member of the team. As well as being proud of Mark’s achievements, we’re proud of our apprenticeship scheme; it offers young people a great way to learn a trade and take their first steps into employment, while also providing us with a valuable source of new talent we can develop to follow the NYEs way of working.

You can find our friendly team at work every week from Monday to Saturday. Drop by our Kingsfold depot for expert advice or just a cup of tea and a chinwag, or get in touch here.