The Brightstar Group has expanded its award-winning Young Learners Programme with the appointment of its first graduate apprentice, while also strengthening its national accounts team with a new internal business development manager.
The group has hired Emma Burgess as its first graduate apprentice, building on its strategy to create workplace opportunities for young people.
Over the past three years Brightstar has provided 94 opportunities through work placements, internships and one-year undergraduate placements, several of which have progressed into full-time roles.
The new graduate apprenticeship will support Burgess through a three-year Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship delivered in partnership with the University of Kent.
Clare Jupp, chief people officer at the Brightstar Group, said: “I am so excited about this latest addition to our Young Learners Programme.
“Emma is an outstanding young woman who is already adding value to the business and who promises to have an excellent future ahead of her.
“Our intention is to offer further opportunities in the future.”
The group has also appointed Jake Hancock as internal business development manager, a new position created to provide dedicated support to Brightstar’s national accounts team.
Hancock will be based at the group’s head office, working alongside group head of national accounts, Andrew Cappaert, and group national account manager, Lee Payne.
His arrival is intended to enhance day-to-day support for brokers and national account partners, ensuring faster communication and a more consistent service experience.
Hancock joins with more than a decade of experience at Randstad Education, where he worked across client relationship management and operational delivery.
Bradley Moore, deputy CEO at the Brightstar Group, said: “This is a big step forward for our National Accounts proposition.
“We’ve already seen the growth of specialist lending with increased business volumes right across the group this year.
“As we continue to grow our relationships with key broker firms and networks, having Jake in place will allow us to support this growth with even greater consistency and responsiveness.”
