Apprenticeships play key role in business success

MTC apprentices at work at Cyber-Weld

Robotics experts benefit from MTC apprentices

The head of a leading Midlands firm of robotics engineers says the company's success can be attributed to its commitment to apprenticeships.

Fraser Reid, managing director of Warwickshire-based Cyber-Weld Ltd, says apprentices are making a significant contribution to the business. More than half of the Cyber-Weld workforce are either apprentices in training or who have recently completed their training. The company has been taking business-ready apprentices from the Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre for the last seven years.

Cyber-Weld has taken on part-trained apprentices undergoing their four year course. He says the apprentices who have been trained at the MTC are skilled in engineering basics, have the discipline required in the workplace, and a proven ability to learn.

Cyber-Weld, which was founded in 1999 and has its manufacturing facilities in Southam, supplies robotic engineering and robot integration services to a range of sectors including automotive, nuclear, aerospace and oil and gas. The business has more than 150 customers worldwide. The company currently employs three MTC apprentices. Matthew Pierson, who has completed his course and is going on to a degree qualification funded by Cyber-Weld, Dalraj Singha and Ben Ellis who are both in their third year.

Fraser Reid said they place a great deal of trust in their apprentices and are rewarded by loyalty and a genuine contribution to the bottom line.

"With an appropriate level of supervision, we encourage our apprentices to use their initiative. They are involved in specifying and purchasing software, developing processes and working on profitable projects. In turn, they impress and earn the respect of our clients. Supported by the MTC's infrastructure, we get young, versatile and experienced employees with a wide range of skills vital to our business," he said.

David Hughes MBE, interim managing director of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, said,