The Croatian sisters finding success in Steel City

Kristina and Petra Kolar found it tricky when they moved to Sheffield, but apprenticeships changed their lives. Catherine Scott reports.
Kristina KolarKristina Kolar
Kristina Kolar

Two Croatian sisters who came to Yorkshire as teenagers have talked about their experiences. They felt “scary” and homesick at first, but they are now thriving – thanks to apprenticeships.

Kristina and Petra Kolar had to leave behind their studies, but were determined to find work in South Yorkshire.

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It wasn’t easy – there were language issues to overcome and both ended up in mundane jobs just to be earning. Petra went to college for two years and applied for over 100 jobs to no avail.

Petra KolarPetra Kolar
Petra Kolar

They wanted careers and finding apprenticeships has given them a way forward.

Kristina now works in Sheffield’s steel sector and is up for an award at the Made In Sheffield Awards on April 23, while Petra is in customer services at Meadowhall.

Kristina, 23, is a respected member of the business support team at Murray Steel, a Sheffield stockholder which supplies specialist profiled steel plates to companies across the UK.

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She was highly commended as one of five finalists from across the UK in the National Association of Steel Services Apprentice of the Year Awards last autumn and has now been nominated for Apprentice of the Year in the Made In Sheffield Awards.

Kristina and Petra KolarKristina and Petra Kolar
Kristina and Petra Kolar

“A career in the steel sector was never in my thinking,” said Kristina, who has now completed a Level 3 business administration apprenticeship provided by The Source Academy. “I’ve found my dream career. Steel is an important part of the heritage of the city I now call home and I am proud to be working in it,” says Kristina.

The girls came to Sheffield from Zagreb, in 2014, after their lorry driver father secured work in Stocksbridge.

Petra said: “I didn’t want to leave my friends and my country. It felt very scary. I’d studied English from the age of seven but I found the South Yorkshire accent really difficult. I couldn’t understand anybody for months.”

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Kristina had also left behind her studies in economics; despite being only a year off a degree-level qualification. She discovered it counted for nothing in the UK.

She could only find work with a bakery chain, then a warehouse. Feeling unfulfilled, she enrolled on a full-time law course at Sheffield College.

“After a year I found it too hard-going and wanted to start a career and earn a wage,” she explained.

“Through college I found out the UK has apprenticeships for numerous careers where you can earn and learn at the same time. In Croatia there is only a scheme for trades roles and hairdressing.

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“I found strong recommendations for apprenticeship provider The Source Academy, in Sheffield, and contacted them for help,” she said.

“Soon after, they invited me to interview for a role at Murray Steel. I wasn’t sure. I had negative perceptions of the industry and so did my friends.” But her perceptions changed. “At Murray Steel I have learned a great amount about material grades, testing, test certificates, our drilling tools and the capability of our machines. In my role supporting the commercial teams I have a significant part to play and I have been trusted to be directly involved in procurement and contract reviews for orders worth over £100,000.

“I now aim to take the skills I have learnt through my apprenticeship to develop my career with the company. I can’t explain how proud I am to have found a place for myself in the country which is now my home.”

Petra, 24, had applied unsuccessfully for over 100 jobs after gaining City and Guild qualifications at Sheffield College and believed her life would never improve. It wasn’t an easy decision,” she explains. “When I arrived in the UK I felt like I had come to a completely different planet. I couldn’t understand people and it made me upset and sad. I wanted to go back to my country. I missed my other family and all my friends. I thought I would never have friends in UK.”

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But she was determined to try to carve out a successful, independent life for herself in her new home.

She studied English for nine months and she was ready to study full-time for two years at Sheffield College. She gained City and Guild level 2 and 3 qualifications in business administration and GCSEs in maths and English. But her qualifications seemed to count for little in the eyes of potential employers.

“I applied for over 100 business admin jobs but everyone said I just didn’t have the experience because I hadn’t worked in offices in the UK. It was really disappointing. I thought I was never going to find a good job. My life was going downhill. I really felt like giving up.”

She ended up working part-time in a shop with her mum. Her sister encouraged her to contact The Source Academy and she took part in a steps to work programme.

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“Then they told me there was a customer service job available at Meadowhall and I jumped at the chance of an interview.” Petra got the job in October 2019 and began her Customer Service Level 2 apprenticeship studies a month later. “I love my job. Plus I have lovely colleagues, I feel accepted by them and finally feel my life is on track.”