National Apprenticeship Week how Superior Seals is nurturing its own future

In support of National Apprenticeship Week, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers profiles Superior Seals’ engineering technology apprenticeship scheme.

If your business requires high levels of technical skills and engineering competence, and you are struggling to find enough high calibre engineers, then you could try running your own apprenticeship scheme.

Superior, on the Ferndown Industrial Estate in Dorset, has done just that. Superior’s Engineering Technology Apprenticeship Scheme offers young people from the age of 16 an opportunity to learn about tool-making, maintenance, operations and product development – and has the backing of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

They have 17 students currently in their apprenticeship scheme, and are recruiting at least five students a year. Jim O’Neil, Superior’s Head of Training says: “Our people are trained, motivated and supported to take ownership of tasks, processes and specific responsibilities. We believe that we must invest now for the future, by recruiting new people to be trained in the workplace so that we can ‘grow our own timber’. This is the heart of the Superior Academy Scheme."

By training in-house Superior can ensure that the right skills are developed, to match the current and future needs of the business. They use their own qualified trainers and instill the company culture and values: a 'can do' mentality and a belief in the importance of putting the customer first.

Future plans include the possibility of creating a 'junior-factory' which aims to replicate the main company, which will allow the apprentices to work in all areas and functions of the business and really understand how the company runs. The holistic approach is already paying dividends with apprentices working in all parts of the business – from sales to tool making. The workforce of 172 people is right behind the scheme, as it demonstrates Superior’s commitment to the future growth and investment in the future. The scheme is also financially viable, as the apprentices do an increasing amount of “real” work as their experience grows, giving an increasing return on investment.
 
Jim O’Neil reflects that: “We’ve worked hard to produce a scheme that gives young people a really decent and traditional grounding in Engineering Technology and it is very satisfying to have the scheme endorsed by the IMechE. We hope that it will encourage our present, hardworking apprentices and help to encourage future apprentices to join us.” This is obviously the case with 70 applications for just 5 places last year. Superior people have an extraordinary team spirit, taking pleasure in delighting customers and in providing a service which exceeds expectations – a culture that is being passed on to the new apprentices.

Are you an apprentice or a company with apprentices and need support or resources from the Institution?  Let us help you:
Support for apprentices: http://www.imeche.org/membership/professional-development-and-cpd/professional-development/Support-for-apprentices

Apply online for professional registration as an Engineering Technician: http://www.imeche.org/membership/membership-registration/How-to-apply/member/engtech-process-and-forms

Get your company apprenticeship scheme accredited by the Institution: http://www.imeche.org/membership/employers-and-accreditation/apprenticeship-scheme-approval

Contact the Institution’s Business Development Manager supporting EngTechs: bdm@imeche.org