Fourply Ltd

Episode 35 The Appprentice And The Bee Metamorphosis of Apprentices Just like our bees, the growth and transformation of our Apprentices isn't always immediately visible. It takes time, guidance and the right opportunities for them to develop into skilled professionals. Take Louise, our Helpdesk/Maintenance Supervisor, as a perfect example. Over 14 years ago, she started her journey at Fourply as a school leaver, pursuing an SVQ L3 in Business & Administration within our Accounts department. Through a combination of hard work, practical experience, and ongoing learning, Louise expanded her skills, eventually joining our Maintenance and Minor Works department. Today, she oversees its operations - a true reflection of her dedication and continuous growth. Much like our bees, Apprentices undergo subtle yet profound stages of development. With the right support and nurturing, their metamorphosis leads to remarkable achievements.

We’re thrilled to announce that Fourply has successfully passed our latest annual NICEIC audit for the 22nd consecutive year!    As an independent, trusted authority, NICEIC ensures that our electrical contracting consistently meets the highest technical, safety and regulatory standards.    Beyond compliance, we value NICEIC’s expertise as a business partner, offering guidance on key technical aspects. Whether it’s through on-site inspections to verify our technical proficiency or ensuring we’re using and calibrating the right equipment, their support helps us maintain precision and accountability in every project.    When you choose Fourply, you can be confident that our electrical work is performed to the highest standards of safety and quality. 

Episode 34 The Appprentice And The Bee Metamorphosis of Bees Our Bees undergo complete metamorphosis during their life-cycle.   Meaning that there are four very different developmental stages, namely: egg, larva, pupa, adult. In this video clip, we can see that our bees have each spun a protective cocoon and therein completed pupation to form into adult bees. Although we are unable to see the form of these adult bees, they will remain secure in their individual cocoons, over-wintering in a state of diapause.  Similarly, our Apprentices go through various stages of development which are not that obvious at first, unless of course we take the time and effort to teach and support them through a successful period of metamorphosis. 

Episode 33 The Appprentice And The Bee 2nd Year Apprentices – Pitched Roof Construction This month, our 2nd Year Carpentry & Joinery Apprentices are honing their skills in Pitched Roof Construction during their college studies.  In this photo, you can see them beginning to construct a gable-ended pitched roof, complete with an overhanging verge. The aim of this unit is to equip our Apprentices with the knowledge and skills to carry out first-fix roofing work in line with current health and safety standards and Building Regulations, whether in new builds or refurbishment projects. By mastering these techniques, our Apprentices will gain the ability to identify and apply the various components and materials essential in carpentry and joinery roofing work. 

Episode 32 The Appprentice And The Bee Full Hotel This year has been a huge success for our Bee Hotel, with every flute filled to capacity despite the challenging wet conditions. Thanks to careful planning, thoughtful design, shared expertise, and dedicated management, our hotel has exceeded all expectations. Much like our Apprentices, the Bees have shown determination and perseverance to meet their goals. Now, it’s just a matter of letting nature take its course in the secure environment we’ve provided. Stay tuned for more as we watch this thriving community develop!

We’re proud to announce that Fourply has successfully passed our latest ISO9001: 2015 audit, once again demonstrating our commitment to quality and excellence. A big thank you to Rose and her dedicated team for their hard work in making this achievement possible! Each year, an IRCA-qualified lead auditor rigorously reviews our processes to ensure:-  ▪ Full compliance with ISO9001: 2015 standards  ▪ Consistent adherence to our internal procedures  ▪ Meeting all applicable legal and regulatory requirements While maintaining this internationally recognised standard is a significant commitment, it continues to drive our business processes to new heights of efficiency, organisation, and compliance. Here’s to another year of setting the standard! 

Episode 31 The Appprentice And The Bee Pitched Roof Construction This month, whilst at college our 2nd Year Carpentry & Joinery Apprentices are studying Pitched Roof Construction.  By creating initial drawings, our apprentices learn to appreciate scale and setting-out skills prior to applying their practical skills within the workshop.  This module marks the start of their 2nd Year at college and demonstrates their development from 1st Year, as they are carefully monitored to ensure a successful outcome. 

Episode 30 The Appprentice And The Bee Natural Progression Just like our Apprentices, we like to check-in on the natural progression of our Bees as they move onto the next stage of their development. In this photo from our Bee Hotel, we see Red Mason bees at different stages of their journey: ▪ In the bottom flute, male larvae have nearly consumed their entire food store of pollen & nectar ▪ In the middle flute, we observe male larvae, still dining. ▪ But the most fascinating sight is in the top flute, where a female larva has wriggled quite a distance out of her incomplete cell, to transform into a prepupa. Luckily, this development happened just in time, avoiding a fall from the hotel! Much like our Bees, our Apprentices are also at various stages of natural progression – of learning, practicing and advancing. Stay tuned as both our Bees and Apprentices continue to develop!

Episode 29 The Appprentice And The Bee Seasons Change but Succession Planning Continues As Summer draws to a close, Autumn signals the beginning of a new season of learning for our Apprentices. Seasonal changes are a natural time for reflection – and a great opportunity to assess our progress, in a positive light. Just like our Bees, secure in their hotels and progressing through their development, our Apprentices are following carefully planned succession paths. Both are essential in safeguarding our future: Apprentices for our organisation - Bees for our food! #TheApprenticeAndTheBee #Apprentices #Apprenticeship #Bees #BeeLife #Fourply #Refurbishments #MinorWorks #FireProtection #Maintenance #Sustainability #Environment #ShapingTheFuture

Episode 28 The Appprentice And The Bee The Most Skilful Builders In this video clip, we watch a Red Mason bee deliver wet mud in her mandibles, then proceed to work it into a protective end-cap to finish-off her run of nest cells. Why are our bees similar to our skilful Construction trades? Nature has given us a huge variety of solitary bee species, such as ‘Mason’, ‘Miner’, ‘Plasterer’ and ‘Carpenter’ bees. As their names suggest, they have an instinctive ability to work efficiently in differing environments of practical activity with varied materials. Our initiative, “The Apprentice and the Bee” parallels the skills required and the challenges encountered by both Apprentices and Solitary Bees, emphasising awareness, commitment, and education for sustainable outcomes. #BeeLife #NatureWatch #RedMasonBees #TheApprenticeAndTheBee #CraftsmanshipInNature