Introducing Reece Ritchie: Work Experience student from Bexley SNAP

Since August, here at Apex we have had the pleasure of being joined by Reece – a 19-year-old student from the Learning and Enterprise College Bexley, who has been completing his work experience at our headquarters in Bexleyheath. Warren Jenchner, our Managing Director, is a proud trustee of Bexley SNAP, a local charity that supports families with children affected by disabilities. The organisation has helped Reece develop his future plans alongside living with learning difficulties, through programmes such as ‘It’s My Future’ which Reece attends every Monday, and we were delighted to offer him a work experience placement.

With hopes of working in an office in the future, Reece has been assisting his colleagues around the office with tasks such as inventory checks, sending emails and scanning – a task he does so well, he has earnt himself the title of ‘Chief Office Scanner’. As well as making sure the office is in tip-top shape, Reece also helped organise a Macmillan Coffee Morning in the office. Collecting money, designing and creating posters to publicise the event and baking a range of delicious cakes, Reece totted up our total donations to over £130 – the most money Apex has ever raised at a charity coffee morning. Reece has also tackled complex spreadsheets, report inputting and stock taking during his time with us.

Most recently, Reece took part in a Customer Care Training workshop, a half day long training offered to the Apex team, in which he learnt several invaluable lessons in customer service. He now can handle a tricky complaint from a customer, as well as calm himself and a customer down when they are feeling angry or frustrated.

When he’s not working or at college, Reece enjoys socialising at youth clubs with his friends, where they’ll go bowling or even grab a cheeky pint (or two!) at the pub. In addition to baking, Reece adores music, has a keen interest in cars and loves watching Strictly on a Saturday night. Every week Reece meets with his Job Coach, Cat, an employee at the Learning and Enterprise College Bexley, who helps him practise for job interviews, improve his money and time management skills and brush up on his professional vocabulary, as well as many other vital tips that ensure Reece is well-prepped for the world of work.

Perhaps most impressively, Reece’s presenting skills are exceptional – so much so, that he will be joining Cat when pitching to other local businesses, with the aim of encouraging them to offer supported internships. Paired with his flair for public speaking, Reece’s successful work at Apex Lifts will hopefully prove to companies that supported internships are an insightful, constructive and rewarding opportunity to offer young people with disabilities from within the local community.

Commenting on his time at Apex, Reece said, “I enjoy the company, the staff and the scanning. I enjoy the atmosphere and like my fellow colleagues a lot. I have learned how to distribute documents to the correct staff members - I have never done this before. I would like to give Apex Lifts a big thank you for giving me this fantastic opportunity.”

“Having Reece working with us has been a delight,” says Warren, Apex Lifts’ Managing Director. “The best thing about Reece’s work experience has been watching his confidence grow week on week. Reece has proven himself to be eager to work, finds it easy to learn independently and he approaches tasks with care and attention. I know that Reece has a bright future ahead of him and he really deserves it.”

To learn more about Bexley SNAP, you can visit their website here.

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