Michael Quirke is someone who knows only too well the value of apprenticeships having begun his own career as a cabinet maker at furniture, lighting and home accessories company Heal’s.

He is now a director of HQ Lacquer in Chessington, a company which provides specialist lacquer finishes on luxury products, including everything from Steinway pianos to top-of-the-range kitchens.

“About 80 per cent of our business is supplying lacquer finishes to high end loudspeakers and this really is our niche business,” said Michael.

A quick look at the company website shows HQ Lacquer has tackled some very unusual projects – including spraying 800 GI helmets for Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan.

The company takes its name from Michael’s surname and that of fellow director John Hennessey who learned his craft on the job for companies such as Rolls Royce as a sprayer/polisher when he left school at 16.

Michael and John decided to go into business together when they met while working for a company in Wandsworth, pooling Michael’s skills as a cabinet maker and John’s as a spray polisher.

They launched their business in 1986 and now have 10 people working for them and one apprentice – Sam Frost, who started with the company two years ago.

Michael had heard about an apprenticeship scheme and decided to give a young person the chance of being trained just as he had been.

“I advertised the job with Connexions one weekend and was impressed that Sam got straight in and hand delivered his CV to the office on the Sunday.”

Sam was interviewed on the Monday and offered the job.

For Sam, 21, it was a golden opportunity. He had left school when he was just 14 and had not taken any GCSEs but had been working in an accident repair shop spraying motorbikes. He discovered he liked the work and jumped at the chance of applying for the apprenticeship.

But before starting work he was sent on block release to college in Nottingham to start his training. He still attends college on block release every two to three weeks. and is now about to start his advanced apprenticeship with HQ Lacquer.

“I really enjoy seeing the end result of my work especially with some of the fancy speakers we produce.”

Both he and Michael admit it has been a steep learning curve as one of the hardest things Sam had to learn was the self-discipline needed to hold down a job.

“I know now that it is really important to be on time for work every day,” said Sam.

“We work as a team here and I have begun to feel a part of that. I’d like to stay on here, perhaps mentor the next apprentice so I can share my experience with them.”

For more information on how to make apprenticeships work for your business, contact the National Apprenticeships Service on 08000 150 600 or visit apprenticeships.org.uk