Paul Batson, managing director, advocates apprenticeships and initiatives encouraging young people to pursue a STEM career.
“We are supporting apprenticeships to ensure Britain remains at the forefront of technological developments,” he says. “These positions get young people into the business so they can build knowledge and gain a variety of departmental experience. We are involved with a local charitable organisation, which was originally set up to train and develop engineers.”
Northamptonshire Industrial Training Association Ltd (NITAL) delivers a range of Level 2, 3 and 4 apprenticeships, and has its own purpose-built training centre in Kettering. Batson is working on the board of trustees to help steer the organisation on what skills employers are seeking in new staff, and ensure the training needs of Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas are met.
James Wilson is the company’s latest manufacturing apprentice, joining the production team in February. Wilson is being trained to become an operator in the Master abrasive-belt conversion facility in Daventry.
Elsewhere in the company, Lee Noonan joined as a technician apprentice in the tool services department in 2016.He is well on the way to achieving his formal qualifications via day release at NITAL training facility, and four days on-the-job working alongside tool services technicians, as well as completing statutory work assignments.
