A BAKERY in Wrexham is recruiting a host of new apprentice roles.

Managers Tom Breeze, 35, and Jac Griffiths, 29, along with trainee product developer Tilly Squire, 18, are the faces of the campaign to take on 20 apprentices at the fast-growing Jones Village Bakery in Wrexham.

The company, which now employs more than 800 people, has traditionally had a grow-your-own policy and most of its bakery managers and supervisors joined as school leavers and climbed the career ladder.

As well as having a bulging order book from UK customers, exports are also playing an increasingly important role with growing markets in France and Germany.

They have also landed a deal to supply a major Australian wholesale and distribution company with three types of American-style pancakes - buttermilk, blueberry and lemon flavours – in a move that created 20 new jobs.

The Leader: Tilly SquireTilly Squire (Image: PR)

Tom Breeze, manager of the bakery in Minera, started as a 16-year-old straight from school.

He said: “I never ever dreamed I would achieve what I have when I first started but I have been on a journey with the company and grown with them.

“The secret of our success is that  we invest in people and we promote within and we are now trying to find the next batch of talented bakers.

“Having had the benefit of a brilliant apprenticeship, I want to see others follow in my footsteps and it’s rewarding for me to see people progress and reach their full potential.”

Jac Griffiths is another homegrown success story and is now the manager of the company’s flagship 140,000 sq ft bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate.

He started out as an 18-year-old production operative and has now embarked on a business management degree on a part-time, three-year course at Wrexham University, paid for by the company.

He said: “I’m pretty young to be running such a big bakery but the company’s mantra is that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

“If you show the right attitude there are lots of opportunities to climb the career ladder.

“There’s been a massive growth in the last four or five years and the only way you can do that sustainably and successfully is by having a crop of talent that’s able to rise up the ranks.

“We are looking to provide different careers for people and the apprenticeship route is a fantastic way to earn while you learn."

Equally grateful for the opportunities she’s been given is Tilly Squire who joined the company nearly three years ago, aged 16.

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She said: “From day one, I was treated like an adult and paid like an adult thanks to the company’s equal pay for young workers scheme and everyone is very friendly here.

“Since then, I’ve had some amazing experiences and opportunities, learning craft bakery skills working in different bakeries, making different products."

Managing director Robin Jones said: “We’re Europe’s fastest growing bakery and we’re not just looking for budding bakers.

“There are opportunities right across the company – we also need engineers as well as people to work in the commercial and finance departments. There is a mass of opportunity here for the right people.

“If we find the right candidates, we can take them on the same  journey as Jac, Tom and Tilly who are living proof of what we’re all about -  we are looking for more people like them to follow in their footsteps.”