Although Unicut has always strived to employ an apprentice every year, however the high standards set by the Welwyn Garden City company have not enabled the company to obtain the calibre of candidates it has required in recent years. Managing director, Jason Nicholson, says: “Training the next generation of engineers is a responsibility that every company should take upon its shoulders. Whilst we haven't found the necessary skill-set in the last two years, as soon as we found the available talent, we gave the youngsters an opportunity. We now have five apprentices in total.”
Having found the facilities at local training establishments incompatible with its machine tools, Unicut has developed its own internal 'training matrix'. Now, the three-year apprenticeship programme consists of six modules that have been devised internally. With performance related incentives and day release NVQ qualifications at a local college, the apprenticeship programme at Unicut has proven a huge success in the eight years since it was established.
“Apprentices will start in our manual milling, turning and grinding department and learn the fundamental basics of operating machine tools. This will evolve with an understanding of engineering drawings, tolerances and basic metrology equipment such as micrometers. When confidence builds and the first structured modules are completed, the apprentices will move onto using non-contact laser measuring, programming 4 and 5 axis machine tools and understanding the concept of CNC control systems. By the end of their apprenticeships, the lads will be able to write CNC programs and operate our high-end 10-axis machine tools that utilise multiple spindles and tooling turrets,” Nicholson says.
“Gaining this level of comprehensive training from the very basic to the highest specification machine tools in the industry is something that most training establishments cannot provide.At Unicut we take our share of responsibility in training the engineers of tomorrow and so far, our training program has proven extremely effective. One of our previous apprentices has evolved to running a production department that now has seven staff and five multi-axis machine tools. In time, our new starters can aspire to this level of knowledge and responsibility,” he concludes.
