Yamazaki Mazak employs 13 more apprentices
1 min read
Thirteen young apprentices have joined Worcester-based Yamazaki Mazak, as part of the company's continued successful apprenticeship scheme.
With a total of 47 applicants, the successful candidates were initially competing for just five places. However, due to the exceptional quality of the applicants that emerged over the two-day assessment, Mazak decided to increase their intake to 13, with the successful candidates starting last month.
A further seven apprentices have already completed their first year, taking the current number of Mazak apprentices to 20. Since the company opened in 1987, Yamazaki Mazak has taken on over 100 apprentices.
Alex Stockwell, 19, a former pupil at The Chase School in Malvern and one of the recent intake, commented: "Engineering offers a good career path and excellent opportunities. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for such a great name in engineering."
Guy Darby, 18, a former pupil at Droitwich Spa High School and also a new joiner, added: "A Mazak apprenticeship is a brilliant opportunity to get into engineering. I've always been interested in engineering as a career and I am really looking forward to learning more about the world of machine tools."
Yamazaki Mazak is the world's leading manufacturer of advanced computer controlled machine tools. The company's Warndon, Worcster site is the European HQ and home to the most advanced machine tool manufacturing facility in Europe. It currently employs 500 people.
"By taking on 13 apprentices, Yamazaki Mazak is investing in the engineers of the future," said David Barnett, training and development coordinator for Yamazaki Mazak. "Engineering apprenticeships offer young people an invaluable route into the world of work and help us to bridge the skills gap to ensure we remain at the forefront of machine tool development.
"Helping young people to develop their skills and personal qualities enables them to become a valuable member of our workforce and simultaneously build a career in engineering."
The apprentices will be working in the machining, sheet metal and assembly departments at Mazak's Warndon facility. The program can last up to four years, including one year of off-job training at Worcester Group Training Association (WGTA). WGTA has spaces for 40 plus apprentices, 13 of which will be taken up by Mazak.
