Family-owned commercial vehicle and trailer manufacturer Cartwright is to add 40 new apprentices to the 120 it has taken on in two years.
The recruitment drive for 40 new apprentices at Cartwright will start later this month.
The company is targeting the recruitment of 16-19 year olds and applicants will be invited to attend a company open day ad factory tour in April.
Cartwright has undertaken a rapid and ambitious apprentice recruitment campaign over the last two years taking on 120 trainees. Many of those who enrolled in the first year of Cartwright’s apprenticeship push have been fast tracked through to level 3 qualifications and are now in varied roles within the company – both office based and shop floor based.
The bespoke apprenticeship framework followed by most Cartwright apprentices is a level 2 engineering qualification delivered with support from Stockport College. The course materials are specific to Cartwright’s manufacturing needs.
On completion of the level 2 qualification, capable apprentices are given the option to progress to level 3 and ultimately HND level to enhance their career prospects.
Ahead of the 2014 recruitment drive company director Mark Cartwright emphasized why the acquisition of talent is so important to him and to Cartright.
“The skills of our workforce form the backbone of the Cartwright business,” he said. “It is therefore essential that we safeguard that skill base by encouraging new blood into the industry.”
Mr Cartwirght said that he considered the last two years of investment in 120 apprentices to have been “a great success”.
“Not only have the youngsters taking part developed new skills,” he commented, “they are now making a valuable contribution to the manufacturing process.”
Fabrication and welding are key skills for Cartwright and the company last year demonstrated its commitment to broadening its local talent base in these skills with an investment in the Welding & Fabrication Centre of Excellence at Stockport College.
Cartwright will take promising applicants to its 40 apprentice vacancies through a three day workshop as part of a rigorous selection process. The workshops will test theoretical skills and workplace competencies such as teamwork.
Successful applicants will begin their training in August, mentored by a shop floor ‘buddy’.
Find out more at www.cartwright-group.co.uk/apprenticeships
