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Case Study - The MD

Didac’s managing director Jon Gibson is himself a testament to what can be achieved with a start in the Apprenticeship scheme.

Jon’s story starts as a schoolboy from Wiveliscombe who had a flair for woodwork and a keenness to learn.

His career advisor found him a place on an Apprenticeship scheme at Wellington-based bedmakers Reylon

Jon says: “The idea of earning money whilst learning a trade appealed to me, and I went along to find out more from Reylon’s personnel manager.  Almost immediately, I decided it was the scheme for me!”

The skills Jon learned during his Apprenticeship, and the passion he developed for furthering his learning, stood him in good stead and at the age of only 21 he was head-hunted by Brunel College in Bristol (Now the City of Bristol College) to become a lecturer in wood machining.

That experience, and the further qualifications and skills he gained at Brunel, enabled him to set up his own company, founding Didac with two colleagues in 1997.

“For me the Apprenticeship path was the best path to the success I craved.  It gave me all the experience I needed.”

Now with Didac providing training for thousands of individuals throughout the South-West, Jon says: "Things have come full-circle".

“I like to think that my own personal experiences as an apprentice make me a better boss.  It certainly gives me an understanding of what young people want to get out of their training.”