Product category:
People in Manufacturing
News Release from: Heller Machine Tools
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 September 2003
Machine tool builder takes on more
apprentices
Heller Machine Tools has taken on three new apprentices this year as part of its continuing policy of planning for the future.
Heller Machine Tools has taken on three new apprentices this year as part of its continuing policy of planning for the future Kieron McGann (16), Ben Biddle (16) and David Adams (17) have been working at Heller during the summer before they start their first year at college
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Feb 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The apprentices will be supported by Heller throughout their first year of college and then start at the Heller manufacturing plant in Redditch with day release to complete their HNC or City Guilds and the NVQIII in engineering.
Each apprentice has already been given a dedicated trainer, selected from Heller's workforce to suit the temperament and needs of the individual.
The trainer remains alongside the apprentice, and is responsible for all aspects of his welfare, until he becomes a fully fledged engineer.
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Heller places no limit on their career ambitions: it assists its apprentices through university should they choose to continue studying.
Heller have traditionally supported the apprenticeship programme in engineering, every year, seeking suitable school leavers interested in and with an aptitude for engineering.
20% of its current workforce were apprenticed at the company and it has apprentices at every level of the apprenticeship programme.
This year it is also intending to enter one of its apprentices as a candidate for Apprentice of the Year.
The apprentices work in all parts of the Heller factory, including materials planning and purchasing, design and inspection.
This is partly to ensure a good overall grounding and partly to allow each individual to identify and develop his or her own talents.
During their training, apprentices have the opportunity to work in Heller Germany to further develop their skills and also to become fluent in the German language.
Once the apprenticeship is completed, there is no restriction on the apprentices' career path: Heller has a policy of selecting the best person for the job when a vacancy arises and prefers to promote from within its existing workforce.
Geoff Lloyd, Managing Director, said "The essence of our success is our people.
Without good people, it is almost irrelevant how well built, how fast, how productive our machines are.
It is the people we employ, their skills and their attitudes which makes Heller the outstandingly successful company we are and are proud of.
"The future of engineering is in engineers.
Good engineers can only be ensured by companies such as ourselves making a commitment to young people joining the industry.
That is why we so actively support the apprentice programme and also the work experience programmes operated by local schools.
The essence of Heller Machine Tools is that we support our customers whenever they need our assistance, be it as simple as a spare part or as complex as developing or revising a manufacturing process.
To do that well, and to continue to do so, we make a serious investment in our people". Request free introductory details about products from Heller Machine Tools ...
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