The Challenge

Trueline Products were looking to recruit an apprentice into their business, but like many employers, faced a common challenge:

• Limited candidate experience to assess via CVs

• Uncertainty around how to identify potential

• Concern about making the wrong hire

They initially planned to hire one apprentice, but wanted a more effective and lower-risk way to make the right decision.

Our Approach

Rather than relying on traditional recruitment methods, we designed a fully managed Apprenticeship Assessment Centre, removing the need for CV screening, shortlisting and conventional interviews.

We attracted and pre-qualified a pool of suitable candidates, designed a structured half-day assessment tailored to a customer service / admin environment, and managed the end-to-end process on behalf of Trueline.

This meant their team could focus purely on observing candidates in action.

The Assessment Day

The assessment centre was delivered over a single morning and followed a structured agenda of practical, job-relevant activities. Candidates completed a mix of individual and group exercises, including team-based problem solving, prioritisation tasks, and scenario-led customer service challenges, alongside a written task designed to reflect real workplace communication. Behind the scenes, candidates were assessed against clear criteria including communication, organisation, teamwork, initiative and alignment to company values, ensuring consistent and evidence-based decision making.

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Inclusive by Design

The process was designed to be fair and inclusive, with candidates assessed on behaviours and potential rather than experience. CVs were not used, helping to reduce bias and create a consistent experience for all participants.

The Outcome

What started as a plan to hire one apprentice quickly changed.

 After attending the assessment centre:

• Three candidates were offered roles

• These hires were placed across different areas of the business

• Trueline gained confidence by seeing candidates perform in real scenarios

The process highlighted potential that would not have been visible through traditional methods.

The Impact The assessment centre enabled Trueline to make confident hiring decisions in a single morning, reduce recruitment risk, and identify multiple strong candidates from one process. Funded Support This project was supported through part-funding from Worcestershire County Council, helping to reduce barriers for employers looking to recruit apprentices and early talent. Delivery The assessment centre was designed and delivered by Hewett Recruitment, with support from our internal team including our own Recruitment Apprentice, reflecting a practical and hands-on approach to early careers hiring.

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Testimonial

'In the past, we have employed our apprentices on interview bases only, which isn’t an ideal way of fulfilled the role.

Sometimes the candidates are very nervous, as it maybe their first ever interview as they could be fresh from school or college and not had much work placement experience.

With the assessment day, it was a brilliant way of meeting several candidates at the same time, in a more informal, fun way and getting to see how they interacted with each other and with the fun assessment tasks, we could see their communication skills, thinking and problem solving first hand.

It was very light-hearted event, and everyone seemed to have a great time. It was held at our premises, so it gave the candidates a chance to see what we do as a company.

It proved to be a very successful event, and we have 3 successful candidates that will be joining us very soon and we would have taken a 4th if the position was available.

It was a great way to bring in our new trainees/apprentices’ and will be certainly using the services again in the future.'

- Charlie MacAulay-Collins, Business Support Manager, Business Support Team (BST)

Why This Approach Works

Apprentice recruitment is not about experience – it’s about potential, attitude and behaviours. By creating an environment where candidates can demonstrate these in real time, employers are able to make informed and confident hiring decisions.

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