Company News
Meet The Future of Pentagon Play: Our Apprentices
National Apprenticeship Week is HERE! (February 10th-16th 2025). At Pentagon Play, we're turning the spotlight on to the awesome apprentices who bring their fantastic skills and personalities to our company.
For over 25 years, apprentices have been a secret ingredient to our success, and we're excited to show you why. This year's theme is "Skills for Life", and we're ready to introduce you to four apprentices who are living proof that Pentagon Play is where talent THRIVES.
Meet Our Apprentice Superstars!
These superstars are more than just apprentices, they're innovators, problem-solves, and rising leaders! We're incredibly proud to introduce you to the superstar apprentices who are making a real difference at Pentagon Play and helping our company maintain it's position as the industry experts.
Isabelle - Playground Visualiser Apprentice
Joining our team over a year ago, Isabelle has made an instant impact on our Playground Visualisation team by bringing her creative spirit and eye for detail to the company. Throughout her time, she's helped Pentagon Play showcase engaging playground design presentations and helped our Operations team create in-depth plans for our installers to use.
Before starting her journey with Pentagon Play, Isabelle found herself on a university course. After careful deliberation and research, she decided that university wasn't for her and discovered the apprenticeship route offered another way for her to achieve her career goals whilst gaining valuable industry experience.
Browsing through a variety of apprenticeships, Isabelle found herself drawn towards Pentagon Play's Playground Visualiser Apprenticeship due to how our company seemed like a fun and light-hearted place to work. In addition, she was also interested in creating playground designs as she always wanted a creative job.
Since becoming an apprentice at Pentagon Play, Isabelle has seen nothing but success and growth in her skills. From achieving her first month of bonus by working on a £13.4k value per hour average to helping our company secure huge jobs, the Playground Visualiser Apprenticeship has helped Isabelle understand more about working life whilst developing vital skills.
When asked about what advice she would give to new apprentices, this is what she had to say:
Don't be scared to talk to different people in the company. Each conversation leads to new exciting opportunities and helps build stronger relationships
Tara - HR and Office Administrator Apprentice
Being on our team for over half a year, Tara has done a fantastic job integrating herself within Pentagon Play by showcasing her caring personality and efficient skillset. During her 6 months, Tara has helped our team apply for DBS checks, ensured that employee records are up to date, supported accounts with payroll and communicated HR information out across the business.
Prior to her apprenticeship, Tara was a Primary School Teacher. After years of experience, she decided that it was time to leave her role and look for new and exciting opportunities. Even though she had a lot of transferable skills, she felt like she didn't have the necessary job experience or knowledge to pursue a career in HR.
After researching about Pentagon Play's HR and Office Administrator Apprenticeship, Tara felt that the apprentice route would offer her a chance to upskill by gaining a new qualification whilst changing career paths at the same time. Once she read the job description, Tara felt that Pentagon Play was perfect due to how our company ethos is to improve the lives of children through our playgrounds and equipment, meaning she would still be having an impact on schools and children's learning.
During her apprenticeship, Tara has gone on to achieve a variety of amazing things. Whether it's passing her probation early due to her amazing work ethic or winning the Pentagon Player of the Month award, it's no surprise why so many people in the company look up to her with admiration.
Wanting her to give some advice to those who are debating doing an apprenticeship, we asked Tara if there's anything she would like to say. After thinking for a while, she came back to use with this quote:
There tends to be a stereotype of an apprentice, which that they're very young and just starting their working life. I thought that I may of been too old and initially worried that I would be too old to do an apprenticeship and that everyone on my course would be much younger, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a mixture of all ages and experiences. My advice would be that an apprenticeship can be for anyone, regardless of age or experience, so go for it!
Ben - Logistics Administrator Apprentice
Another apprentice who started working with us over half a year ago is Ben, an absolute legend that has made an impressive impact on the Manufacturing team. Throughout his 6 month tenure, he's helped Pentagon Play ensure that deliveries for the drivers are scheduled, ensured that loads are safe to go onto the road, managing the yard and also helps out with the fleet work (ensuring MOTs and Services are booked in for our vehicles).
Previous to starting his apprenticeship with us, Ben was deciding on which path to take to help him secure a job that he would enjoy. After weighing up his options, he felt like an apprenticeship was the best option for him as he preferred practical learning of a job compared to learning in a classroom environment.
Looking online, Ben came across Pentagon Play's Logistics Administrator Apprenticeship and found the description to be interesting. Noticing the growth that Pentagon Play was experiencing, Ben felt like joining the Pentagon family would be a great way to not only achieve his apprenticeship, but to also work for a successful and thriving business.
Since then, Ben has gone on to help the Manufacturing team achieve a variety of things, from building relationships with other departments to passing probation in record time. Due to his contributions to the team, Ben has found himself easily integrating with his department and helping to implement new processes, making him a valued team player!
We wanted to know if Ben had any wise words to pass on to any apprentices who might join us in the future and help our company continue to grow and lead the industry with bright and innovative ideas. Being a man of few words, he left us with a classic quote:
Never give up!
Suzie - Accounts Apprentice
Moving on to our most recent apprentice, Suzie joined the Pentagon Play family 3 months ago and has already made a name for herself within the Accounts team. Whether it's sending our customers invoices or processing supplier invoices, Suzie makes sure to keep Pentagon's finances in check with her amazing skills and knowledge.
Before starting her journey with Pentagon Play, Suzie found herself wanting to swap her job roles but felt like her current set of skills would restrict her applicability. After doing some online research, she came across the Accounts Apprenticeship offered by Pentagon Play and felt like this opportunity was too good to pass up on.
Looking into our history, Suzie saw the fun and friendly environment that has been established within our business and felt like it was the perfect place to carry out an apprenticeship in. Crossing her fingers, she submitted her application and got selected to become one of Pentagon's new apprentices!
During her three months with us, Suzie has become well-recognised within the office and has helped Accounts build a stronger relationship with a variety of departments. Not only this, but due to the amazing support offered to her by colleagues, she has found herself gaining confidence in her new role and continues to impress everyone.
Sitting down with Suzie, we asked if there was anything she would like to share with anyone who might be doubting apprenticeships and their value. Up for the challenge, Suzie gave us this:
The majority of my colleagues began their accounts career with an apprenticeship, so their advice regarding exams and seeing how successful they are now really motivates me!
Skills for Life: The Pentagon Play Difference
Throughout Pentagon Play's history, we have always valued our apprentices and have gone above and beyond to help them develop a range of skills that can help them work effectively within a workforce (whilst having a bit of fun too!).
We want to be able to inspire the next generation of workers by helping them explore their career path in a calm and friendly environment. Whether it's logistics or accounts, HR or visual design, Pentagon Play has always made an effort to make apprentices feel involved and valued.
Recognising National Apprenticeship Week 2025, we wanted to highlight how Pentagon Play has had a positive impact on these apprentices' lives and highlight how employers like us should ensure that we do absolutely everything we can to support apprenticeships and develop careers.
Why Should I Choose a Pentagon Play Apprenticeship?
Not only would you be doing your apprenticeship with one of the UK's leading playground design experts, but you'll also have:
- Constant support from managers and colleagues
- Access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology
- Regular work socials to meet new people
- A relaxed and fun office atmosphere
- Check-ins with HR and management on well-being
- Free snacks and drinks from our kitchen
- Great amount of holidays compared to industry average
- Chances to develop more in-depth skills relating to your role
- Opportunities to explore other roles within the business
- An office designed to help you thrive and grow in
- A wage that is 17% higher than the National Apprenticeship wage
By checking our careers page, you can learn more about what apprentices can gain by working with us and what can be earned when you become a full-time employee with us. The majority of our apprentices go on to work with us and achieve great things, with some eventually growing to be managers and heads of departments!
Your Adventure Starts Here!
National Apprenticeship Week may be coming to a close, but your journey is just beginning! At Pentagon Play, we believe in nurturing talent and empowering our apprentices to reach their full potential. If you're passionate about developing "Skills for Life" and building an incredible career, then your adventure starts here!
Make sure to check out our careers page to see what apprenticeships are currently available and see how we can help you achieve your career goals. Check the page regularly as more programmes will be added in the near future!
