Member Article

Apprentices wanted at saved engineering factory

An engineering firm that secured the future of 76 workers at a Stokesley factory is looking for four apprentices to join the team at the North Yorkshire site.

Express Engineering Group is now operating from the former Burdon facility on the Stokesley Industrial Estate.

The company wants to add the trainees to the programme which has already seen 100 apprentices join the business and has begun the search by opening discussions with local colleges and Hambleton District Council.

From its Team Valley headquarters in Gateshead Express has run its own apprenticeship programme since shortly after its launch in 1973.

During a period of rapid growth, which has seen revenues increase almost threefold in the last three years to around £30million, the company has found it beneficial to have people coming through the ranks who not only have the right capabilities for the job but are also familiar with the firm’s culture.

Managing Director at the Stokesley site, Iain Oates said: “It is fantastic to be able to create these new apprenticeships for young people in the area when, at one time, the very future of the factory looked in doubt.

“Express Engineering has an outstanding record of training and then retaining its workforce, with over 75% of those who served their time with the company still on the books - maintaining continuity and consistency to operations.

“I am convinced that the apprenticeship programme has played a huge part in the growth and success of the business. It has enabled the company to train people not just in the skills required but the in ethos of the business.

“Although job opportunities in manufacturing have generally declined over the past 40 years, Express has developed ever more highly skilled people to support its success and we want to continue this here at Stokesley.”

Express is now a globally recognised contract manufacturing company. From its 200,000 square feet of specialist facilities in Gateshead, Stokesley and in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the 375 strong workforce supplies precision engineering services to the aerospace, sub sea oil and gas exploration and production and power generation sectors.

The acquisition of the Burdon plant was part of a £10 million expansion programme and the recent deal with mid-market private equity investor LDC will pave the way for further investment and growth.

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