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News Release from: Heller Machine Tools
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 September 2007
UK machine tool plant adds more
apprentices
UK factory that builds horizontal machining centres reported that its engineering apprentice intake is growing more than before - five joined the company in September, 2007.
The managing director of Heller Machine Tools, Redditch, UK, Geoff Lloyd, is known for his powerful view on training in the machine tool industry Heller, which manufactures horizontal machining centres at its Redditch plant, has more young engineers entering its apprentice scheme this September (2007) than ever before
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Feb 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The five entrants will be joining others already progressing through the comprehensive training programme and the many Heller employees who have already completed it.
Lloyd said: "Apprentices are the lifeblood of the industry, without them, we have no future.
But training programmes should not stop there, and at Heller they do not.
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Whilst we make a 100% commitment to the apprentice programme, we also make a 100% commitment to training for all our staff.
The success of Heller is its people, whether it be the receptionist answering the phone, the skills of the engineers building the machines, the applications engineers or the service engineers.
It is for that reason we wholeheartedly support and maintain extensive training programmes".
Heller has been operating an apprentice training programme for many years, and can be proud that more than 20% of its workforce started as a Heller apprentice.
Every year the company actively seeks suitable school leavers interested in and with an aptitude for engineering to take into the apprenticeship programme and such is the commitment that the number of places is unlimited.
It has apprentices at every level of the apprenticeship programme.
Success of its thorough training is evidenced by its achievements in the Apprentice of The Year Scheme: currently five Apprentice of the Year winners are working at Heller.
The Apprentice Training Scheme as operated by Heller is unrestricted.
Whilst following the formalised, national curriculum at the Heller manufacturing plant in Redditch, apprentices spend time in every department at the company, partly to ensure a good overall grounding and partly to allow each individual to identify and develop his or her own talents.
Day release is given so apprentices can complete their HNC or City Guilds and the NVQIII in engineering.
They also have the prospect of spending time at the parent factory in Germany to further develop their skills and becoming fluent in German.
Each apprentice has 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 or she becomes a fully fledged engineer.
Once the apprenticeship is completed, there is no restriction on the apprentices' career path: the company assists its apprentices through university should they choose to continue studying and has a policy of selecting the best person for the job when a vacancy arises and prefers to promote from within its existing workforce.
Training does not stop with the completion of an apprenticeship, and Heller offers further training to every employee who chooses to take the opportunity.
Ken Best, a long-time employee with Heller, has just achieved his NVQ level 5 in Health and Safety and is the first person in the country to have done so electronically.
Lloyd said: "Competent, available training is vital to the future of the industry.
Translating talk into action takes dedication, determination and the will to carry a project through to fruition.
At Heller, it is that commitment which we bring to every aspect of our business and none more so that the training of our existing and future employees". Request free introductory details about products from Heller Machine Tools ...
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