Norgren takes apprentice route to fill skills gap
Four new apprentices have just started their careers with one of Lichfield’s largest employers, Norgren Limited. Embarking on the three year apprenticeship, they are continuing Norgren’s long heritage of employing apprentices, from within the local community, to fill the skills gap.
Working with their education partner, South Staffordshire College, Norgren began the selection process back in May this year and, so popular is the Apprentice Scheme, over 150 applications were received. From a shortlist of 12 strong candidates there followed a detailed selection process finishing in the appointment of the four apprentices.
“The apprentices join an elite group of individuals that have excelled and in some cases progressed through the business to senior management team positions,” explained Alan Topping, Norgren’s Engineering Manager. “After a busy first week going over fundamentals of factory life, together with Health and Safety, they are now progressing through an intensive first year. This involves spending time with all departments and achieving a basic level of understanding in each – for three years their time will be spent with 2 days a week at college and 2 ½ days at Norgren.
“Apart from developing these apprentices around our own manufacturing processes we are also addressing an ever widening skills shortage in the UK’s engineering sector. These skills are a vital element to keeping manufacturing and jobs in the UK.”
Norgren is a global leader in pneumatic motion and fluid control technology and manages its own product application advanced training programme called Norgren University. Linking the apprentice programme to Norgren University will also address shortages of skills in product application and design.
Image Caption: New Norgren Apprentices left to right: Tom Redfern, James Leeson, Wade Rowley-Share and George Bell
Image Caption: New Norgren Apprentices left to right: Tom Redfern, James Leeson, Wade Rowley-Share and George Bell
Ref: No-020-A
Issue date: November 2011
Photography and graphics: Contact davidw@jonoliver.com for high res files
Issued by:
Jon Oliver Communication Ltd. +44-(0)1902-757115
Further information:
Emma Lynch, UK Marketing Assistant, Norgren Limited
P.OBox22, Eastern Avenue,Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6SB
e-mail: elynch@norgren.com : +44 (0)1543 265000
Visit our web site: www.norgren.com
Notes:
Key Norgren facts:
One of the largest global suppliers of pneumatic motion and fluid control solutions - Employs 6,000 people globally - Wholly owned subsidiary of IMI plc - Global manufacturing and technical centres - 300 design and development engineers worldwide
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