With 20 businesses from across the region in the running to win trophies and approximately 200 representatives attending the awards dinner at the Edgebaston Stadium in Birmingham on Wednesday 21st May, Nylacast were delighted to have been announced winners.
Nylacast have always taken pride in commitment to developing the skills and education of young people and increasing their opportunities, whether this be through the Engineering Apprenticeship scheme or through the in-house training courses that are frequently run.
More recently, in a drive to progress this initiative and improve the skills shortage that is commonly associated to engineering, Nylacast have invested in a new purpose built Engineering Training Academy. This will not only be utilised by young students coming into engineering, but will also be able to upscale the skills and knowledge of the current workforce and reward the loyalty of long serving and dedicated employees with structured training programs and opportunities to further their knowledge and gain qualifications.
Ian Mallabone, Group HR & Training Manager commented, “As a business we recognised the need to actively combat the skills shortage within engineering, this led to the establishment of a robust, rigid apprenticeship program in 2011. With our most valuable asset being our people we also took the decision to invest in and create our own dedicated engineering training academy in 2014, in addition to facilitating our apprenticeship program the academy also allows us to nurture talent and realise potential within our own workforce and company by tailoring and delivering specific training programs across all areas of Nylacast”.
Lewis Noble, a current apprentice at Nylacast said, “After just 30 months on my apprenticeship program I am a very component setter and basic programmer within the Milling department and complete one off jobs. I feel that Nylacast will provide me with an excellent career in Engineering and I personally believe that I can achieve a position within the company as a very skilled programmer within the Milling Department. I also really enjoy working for Nylacast.”
There was strong competition from the well-known company Siemens and from Caparo Industries for the Made in the Midlands Apprenticeship and Training Award category, which gives even greater credit and recognition to all those at Nylacast who gave their time and effort in contribution to this award.
Nylacast Marketing Manager, Junaid Makda commented, “With a strong focus and commitment to continuous development, Nylacast are elated not only to have won this award, but to be amongst a great set of finalists. The award is well deserved by both the enthusiastic apprentices and our dedicated employees across all areas of the business who get involved with our training, development and apprenticeship programs.”
As winners of the award, Nylacast have automatically been entered into the national Made in the UK awards which will on July 21st 2014.