02 February 2002

In the last financial year, JAG Communications (Plymouth) Ltd, processed sales to connect 55,000 mobile phone users. As an independent retailer of mobile phones, JAG customers receive impartial advice, and can be connected to all four networks - BT Cellnet, Orange, Vodaphone, and One to One.

JAG employs 160 people within its telesales operation, and chain of 40 retail stores located throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Wales. Twenty-five staff are based at the Bodmin head office, which undertakes all the administration, contracts, and accounts departments.

Personal assistant, Sonia Varcoe, said: "About 12 months ago, when the company started to expand in a big way, we needed more help in the contracts department to keep up with the increasing volume of sales. Bodmin Careers Centre suggested that we interview Pauline even though her previous experience had been in a factory rather than an office."

"We were impressed by the fact that Pauline wanted to train and gain qualifications. Today, Pauline is running a key department, with responsibility for overseeing the areas of work that she undertook when she started with us as an office junior."

"Our staff working in head office need to be computer literate, and good at maths to be able to deal with figures. While a lot of staff training is done in-house, we arrange work-based training for NVQ qualifications with Ultra Training who visit us on a regular basis."

"In our experience, the Modern Apprenticeship programme works well. It enables the company to train people to our high standards in the skills we need to run an efficient and competitive business. And, it gives young people the chance to learn skills, achieve qualifications and gain experience in the workplace that will be important in their working lives."