Celebrating our apprentices for National Apprentice Week NAW2020

Successful recruitment for us is achieved in finding unique characters that have the drive to lead in the engineering space, but who also can demonstrate interest and curiosity and passion in what they do outside of the work environment to give us indications that they are rounded individuals with the capability to grow and contribute on many levels.

We are not predominantly fixed on filling positions, though obviously there are times when a resource is in high demand or change happens within the team structure that does require bums on seats. In our search for unique characters in the world of apprenticeships, examples of passion for engineering and the longing for challenge and responsibility, as demonstrated by our current apprentices, include:

• integrating a petrol engine into a mobility scooter
• repairing mobile phones
• rebuilding an original Mini Cooper
• attending AMRC Training Centre Manufacturing Camps

Adding Tangible Value

We started our apprenticeship programme in 2016. In addition to providing training for young people coming into engineering through the apprenticeship route, there was also an initial attraction in adding extra resource at a manageable cost for our growing business. We started by taking on two apprentices and set about building our experience in recruitment and development.

Adding a significant contribution to our regular Ideas Factory Workshop

The two initial apprentices were impressive candidates who were driven and enthusiastic individuals and who went on to greatly exceed our expectations. We could not have anticipated back in early 2016 that the two people we took on could not only follow works procedures and make great tea, we also found that they could contribute significantly to design meetings and manufacture prototype components to very high standards. These Trainee Engineers have paved the way for the additional five apprentices we now have. As we are a total team of 21, having seven apprentices in our midst has only been possible due to the high calibre of the original duo and those that have followed. I hope all of our apprentices see the significant role they have played and opportunity they have created for the apprentices after them. Providing this development opportunity to others is part of their legacy, their mark on people’s lives, and this leaves a promising hope for their future and provides confidence in ours. Because of this success, and that these individuals are clearly going to do big things wherever they are, the decision was made to rename the apprenticeship scheme, (generic and boring) the Future Leaders Scheme. A fitting title, and I’m confident it will be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

We now have high expectations of any new apprentices coming through the door. Within 18 months we expect Future Leaders to be managing their own customer projects, looking after project documentation, customer updates, resource planning, devising test and build procedures for product and experimentation, conduct testing and development of products. Of course, this level of responsibility comes with a support structure and development plan tailored to each apprentice.

Our key partner in delivering the apprenticeship scheme is the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre, which is part of the University of Sheffield. Many of our apprentices first make contact with us at AMRC Training Centre Matching Events. At this point, potential candidates have successfully completed the Training Centre’s assessment centre and are prepped for, potentially, their first interaction with an industrial employer. The Matching Events are an opportunity for candidates to meet employers, get a better understanding of what an apprenticeship at the company may look like and create a first impression.

Our apprentices have made a significant impact in our business and have supported our transformation to the high-tech scale-up company it is today. So, who does make the tea? We all do, even the CEO!

Author: Tom Chaldecott

Tribosonics is an innovation-led scale-up with a strong challenger mindset, driving transformation by using its unique sensing technologies to address challenges in tribological contacts (wear, friction and lubrication) in rotating equipment.

Located and forged in Sheffield, it serves global markets in Transport, Power Generation and Manufacturing.

For further information or to arrange a discussion about how Tribosonics can add value to your business, contact: Christina King, [email protected]