The cold-forming, machining and assembly contractor is working closely with colleges in the local area to provide apprentices with training and skills for engineering sector. Working alongside experienced engineers, Dawson Shanahan’s apprentices work on real projects, lead by senior process development engineer Ken Toop, who was responsible for the development of the training school.
Following the opening of the training school, the company’s apprentices now have access to a dedicated classroom to learn about the theoretical side of engineering. Importantly, there is also an area featuring different types of machinery. Here, the apprentices can put theory into practice and hone their skills in a range of areas.
In addition to the improved training facilities, the extra space will allow Dawson Shanahan to increase its intake of apprentices in the future. At present, it has five apprentices in training for various National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), but there is capacity for more and the company expects to fill these spaces to meet the growing demand for its apprenticeship scheme amongst young people keen to explore a career in engineering.
Ken Toop says: “Training the next generation of engineers is an incredibly important responsibility for all of us at Dawson Shanahan and the new apprentice training school helps us to do this to the best of our ability. Apprentices now have greater access to everything they need to develop their skills and earn their engineering qualifications."
Dawson Shanahan offers a complete subcontracting solution, offering everything from prototype to production, being designed and manufactured in house to reduce both manufacturing lead time and costs for customers in sectors ranging between aerospace, automotive, electronics, laser, medical, packaging, plasma, power distribution, telecoms and welding.
