Wilton Engineering has boosted its number of apprentices by 20 with help from Hartlepool College of Further Education.

The long-term partnership has worked successfully for years to produce the skills required in the fabrication and welding sector.

After appointing an apprenticeship training co-ordinator, Andy Ryder, Wilton have plans to continue investment in that area of the business by helping more people get into work.

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Wilton has also pledged to recruit from this area and are preparing to open a training centre onsite to enhance the skills of their new and existing workforce.

The organisation, whose CEO Bill Scott started out as an apprentice, wants to give people a chance to shine regardless of whether they want a change of career or are recently out of school.

John Price, Group HR manager at Wilton, said: “The fabrication sector needs this continued investment to provide for the future UK capability across a number of sectors.

“This can only be achieved with a workload to back up not only the investment but to provide the valuable experience new apprentices need over a sustained period.

“The customers we work with provide that sustainability, varied projects and the opportunity to offer a career not just a job.

“We always find the apprentice recruitment process enjoyable, and this year has been no exception."

Gary Riches, the College’s assistant principal, said: “We are helping Wilton close the skills gap for fabricators and welders.

“We have had various meetings between the College senior team and the senior team at Wilton to which there have been lengthy discussions around designing programmes to meet the needs of the sectors that Wilton work in.

“We have a long-established relationship of working together, they often recruit from our learners on courses to make them apprentices and we work in collaboration to deliver the right level of training within the workplace."

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