Fine Art Technician Review

I recently passed my traineeship as a Fine Art Technician. A fine art technician looks after the safe transportation of art which includes handling, packing, transporting and installation. Clients include national museums, galleries and private people. Since the start of the traineeship I learnt to drive and now regularly drive the company vehicles.

When I first joined I lacked confidence - More social confidence, especially when meeting new people away from my own social group/background. Through this traineeship I've met and worked alongside people who such as artists and historians both from the UK and from all sides of the world. During my traineeship I also went to France, Holland, Germany and Italy working with a team of skilled people watching and assisting them. The skills I have learnt have been also how to look after and install art.

It was enjoyable but at the start it was a challenge as I knew nothing but once I started to get to know everyone I was really looked after and treated like everyone else. People wanted to help me progress, hopefully because they could see I wanted to progress. There are so many enjoyable parts.

You have to value yourself firstly, the company relies on people having self motivation and lets its staff express themselves and be themselves around clients. The company recruitment process is a good one so rarely do we get anyone working here who is not a very nice person. Value is a two way street

I was the first trainee just over three years ago and we now have two further apprentices since I've passed and become full time. There were some things what have changed along the way based on my progress, some elements have been much quicker and others have taken a little longer. Whether a meeting took place at the right time or not hasn't held me back, I am now fully qualified, have a full-time job earning good money, I have a car, I have travelled to so many places and met so many wonderful people. Just over three years ago I could never had imagined I would be doing what I am doing now, and where I am now.

During my traineeship I didn't have a training provider as it wasn't an apprenticeship. I had so many mentors though, right up to General Manager level who would also take a keen interest in what I was doing and progressing. Im now taking my HGV driving course which will open up even more opportunities

The overall business wanted me to succeed. The traineeship was the idea of the General Manager who started 25 years ago doing exactly what I was doing. But as I said earlier, you only get out what you put in, you have to work hard, want to learn and see a career in the industry.

The first year was a little hard being on minimum wage but I lived at home, but after very good planned increases in year two and three it was a lot easier. There's also the opportunity to earn some overtime during busy period. Now I've qualified I am on a very good package, higher than a lot of 21 year olds who have a poor school background. I have enough money to be able to rent my own room, buy a car, enjoy a good social life and save a little. I could never have dreamed of earning what I am now when I was 18. What goes beyond money is how much I have learned.

The office and operations people all go to the pub on Friday evening which is nice, I've also tagged on some holidays to some of the foreign places I have been to, such as Paris and Milan

Yes

A nice place with nice people. There are opportunities of so many kinds if you want to work to get them. Crown are also an international company so if I decided I wanted to work somewhere else like France or America then that opportunity is possible.

Be yourself, everyone who work there are very different. So many nationalities and background, it feels like a very accepting company. Again, work hard and show yourself as an asset who they can do without, if you can you will go far