Member Article

Express' 100th apprentice

A young man from North Shields has become Express Engineering’s 100th apprentice marking an impressive milestone in the company’s commitment to the North East workforce.

Andrew McKie, 17, became the 99th person to don the overalls since Phil Lees became Express’ first apprentice in 1974 and has joined the rapidly expanding Team Valley based firm’s 240 strong workforce.

Said Andrew: “I have always wanted a job like this. Ever since I was little I have had a keen interest in the way things work and I used to like taking things apart and fixing things. Being given the opportunity to learn my trade here has been fantastic.”

Andrew’s parents were still at junior school when Phil, 56 and from Gateshead started his apprenticeship with Express.

He said: “I started out as a tool maker in what was essentially a large tin hut in Byker. There were only ten of us at the time and it has been incredible to witness the company expand to having two huge sites on the Team Valley and a third in Brazil.

Phil, who now works as a test and assembly engineer, added: “The reason for still being here after all these years would have to be the family environment. I’ve always felt respected and well looked after. Andrew is in good hands here and I’m sure he’ll be successful in what he wants to achieve. Maybe he’ll join the 75 of us who finished our apprenticeships and are still working for the company today.”

Express Engineering was launched by Keith Thompson in 1973 and is now part of a group of diverse operations - led by his son Chris – which last year turned over in excess of £60 million and employed around 800 people.

Express Engineering’s turnover has gone through the £30 million mark for the first time as the company celebrates 40 years in business, following five years of expansion which has seen manufacturing floor space and staff levels more than double.

New facilities, new equipment, the apprenticeship scheme and an operation in Brazil, called Petrotec, are now paying great dividends with production – around a third of which is for export - and profit growing strongly.

Managing Director, Nigel Davison, said: “It has always been our ethos to provide high quality training to young people from our local communities. Although manufacturing job opportunities in general have declined over the past 40 years, we have developed ever more highly skilled people to support our success.”

“We welcome Andrew to the team and maybe he will be around to welcome our 200th apprentice at some point in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .