News: AESSEAL launches apprenticeship scheme at Rotherham HQ
Award-winning Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL is investing at least £1.25m in its own apprenticeship programme.
AESSEAL is the world's fourth largest mechanical seal business and supplies oil, chemical, gas, mining, water and other industries. Over the coming five years the company will train at least 30, predominantly young, men and women. Ten are already on board. The programme was officially launched by Rotherham MP, Denis MacShane last week at AESSEAL's Templeborough Headquarters.
Mr MacShane urged Rotherham firms to copy the apprenticeship scheme set up by AESSEAL and start to train a new generation of school leavers for the 21st century economy. He said: "I would like to see every Rotherham firm above the smallest level organising an apprenticeship scheme. In fact, we need an AESSEAL type revolution across the nation, a complete recasting of our labour market so that investment in skills becomes the norm."
One of the largest investments the company has made in a long time, the apprenticeship scheme will improve the demography of the ageing workforce. But more than that, the initiative is about the ethos of AESSEAL and creating home-grown talent which will act as a showcase for the renaissance of manufacturing.
As testament to their deep commitment to apprenticeships, AESSEAL has differentiated its initiative by developing a two year off-the-job programme with experts at the Brinsworth Academy of Engineering, fully accepting that there will be no measurable productive return from the apprentices during this period.
Also at the launch, Denis Healy, business development manager of IMechE, welcomed the initiative and presented a certificate of accreditation from the professional engineering institution.
AESSEAL believes that competition for experienced engineers means it must grow its own.
"That means we can also instil in them AESSEAL's core values," said Richard Cook, production and personnel director (pictured, above right with apprentice Michael Talbot), "especially the all-encompassing ethos of giving customers such exceptional service, from product quality to after-care, that they need never look for an alternative source of supply."
The company knows that investment in well-trained employees gives lucrative payback over time through increased efficiency and innovation. But it also insists on a clear, legally-binding agreement those undertaking higher education are expected to sign – anyone leaving before or within a few years of qualifying must repay a reducing proportion of course fees, immediately on leaving.
"Yes, it does focus the mind," admitted Richard. "But we hope the people will stay with us for years as great machine operators, sales people, administrators – whatever they develop into, because they have stimulating and challenging career paths.
"We have one young person on our Advanced Apprenticeship Programme with the specific remit of becoming a sales engineer. Another rejected a university place to join us as an apprentice and is now being fast-tracked through our Management Development Programme. One of our female apprentices has just made the transition from manufacturing workshop to sales administration, creating vital packages that will persuade companies to choose our products and services."
AESSEAL has enjoyed 29 consecutive years of growth. It now employs 1,500 people, has operations across the globe, and boasts sales of £123.9m.AESSEAL website
Images: AESSEAL
AESSEAL is the world's fourth largest mechanical seal business and supplies oil, chemical, gas, mining, water and other industries. Over the coming five years the company will train at least 30, predominantly young, men and women. Ten are already on board. The programme was officially launched by Rotherham MP, Denis MacShane last week at AESSEAL's Templeborough Headquarters.
Mr MacShane urged Rotherham firms to copy the apprenticeship scheme set up by AESSEAL and start to train a new generation of school leavers for the 21st century economy. He said: "I would like to see every Rotherham firm above the smallest level organising an apprenticeship scheme. In fact, we need an AESSEAL type revolution across the nation, a complete recasting of our labour market so that investment in skills becomes the norm."
One of the largest investments the company has made in a long time, the apprenticeship scheme will improve the demography of the ageing workforce. But more than that, the initiative is about the ethos of AESSEAL and creating home-grown talent which will act as a showcase for the renaissance of manufacturing.
As testament to their deep commitment to apprenticeships, AESSEAL has differentiated its initiative by developing a two year off-the-job programme with experts at the Brinsworth Academy of Engineering, fully accepting that there will be no measurable productive return from the apprentices during this period.
Also at the launch, Denis Healy, business development manager of IMechE, welcomed the initiative and presented a certificate of accreditation from the professional engineering institution.
AESSEAL believes that competition for experienced engineers means it must grow its own.
"That means we can also instil in them AESSEAL's core values," said Richard Cook, production and personnel director (pictured, above right with apprentice Michael Talbot), "especially the all-encompassing ethos of giving customers such exceptional service, from product quality to after-care, that they need never look for an alternative source of supply."
The company knows that investment in well-trained employees gives lucrative payback over time through increased efficiency and innovation. But it also insists on a clear, legally-binding agreement those undertaking higher education are expected to sign – anyone leaving before or within a few years of qualifying must repay a reducing proportion of course fees, immediately on leaving.
"Yes, it does focus the mind," admitted Richard. "But we hope the people will stay with us for years as great machine operators, sales people, administrators – whatever they develop into, because they have stimulating and challenging career paths.
"We have one young person on our Advanced Apprenticeship Programme with the specific remit of becoming a sales engineer. Another rejected a university place to join us as an apprentice and is now being fast-tracked through our Management Development Programme. One of our female apprentices has just made the transition from manufacturing workshop to sales administration, creating vital packages that will persuade companies to choose our products and services."
AESSEAL has enjoyed 29 consecutive years of growth. It now employs 1,500 people, has operations across the globe, and boasts sales of £123.9m.AESSEAL website
Images: AESSEAL
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