We are very proud to welcome Plas-Tech, East Yorkshire based Thermoforming specialists, to The 5% Club. Some of Plas-Tech’s apprentices and graduates shared their experiences so far with us and gave insight into what careers with Plas-Tech and thermoforming entail.

After leaving Sixth Form College, 20 year old Casey Hare signed up with Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA), an Engineering training provider offering apprenticeship training throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region. She is now employed by Plas-Tech Thermoforming Limited as a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice.

Having spent her first year off site at HETA honing her broad based engineering skills, she returned to Plas-Tech to spend several months in each production department, a short secondment in the tool room learning CNC machining, before joining the maintenance team for the remainder of her apprenticeship. Casey Commented:

“Every day is different here – I love the variety, and am never bored. I’ve always wanted to get into engineering, and this is a brilliant direct route in.”

Casey is joined on the apprenticeship programme by 18 year old Jack Mainprize from Hull, who attended Malet Lambert School in the city, completed his BTEC at HETA, and is also employed at Plas-Tech on a mechanical apprenticeship. Jack is enjoying his time at the company and is now specialising in the manufacture of CAM machined Thermoforming and Injection Moulding tools, jigs and fixtures. Jack commented

“I will be here for four years in total, and I am loving it. This is exactly what I’ve always wanted to do.”

More recently Plas-Tech recruited Graduate Engineer Rajan Lakshmipathi, fresh from completing his MSc in Engineering from Glasgow University to strengthen their injection moulding tool making capabilities. Having spent several years in the far east working as a tool maker, Rajan is employed as a Junior Tool room Manager, commenting

“Plas-Tech is a perfect place for me to hone my skills whilst developing my managerial abilities along with the company’s strategic growth.

Plas-Tech’s Technical Manager, Chris Hood, said:

“I am a great believer in bringing in the right people to develop the right skills and aptitudes to work for us here. At Plas-Tech, taking on apprentices and graduates is a vital part of our succession planning – if we know that, for example, we are going to have a long serving member of staff retire, we will always consider taking on and training an apprentice or graduate to fill the gap.”

“You need to invest the time and effort to transfer knowledge, and you must have a structured approach to their training programme – it’s vital that they don’t take on too much too soon. Young people transferring from the school environment to the workplace learn by making mistakes, and you need to be patient with them. You really do get out of the apprenticeship scheme what you put in.”

To learn more about Plas-Tech and the opportunities the company provides, please visit their website.

To find out more information about The 5% Club and how to become a member, please visit http://www.5percentclub.org.uk/index.html or get in touch by emailingcontactus@5percentclub.org.uk.

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Nortech, an award winning Engineering Design, Project Management, Procurement and Construction Management services provider has joined the 5% club and has pledged to provide opportunities for young people to the level of 5% of its workforce within 5 years.

We spoke to some of the Nortech staff that joined the company through apprenticeship and graduates schemes to hear about the great opportunities Nortech has provided and their experiences so far.

Dan Brady, Graduate Civil Engineer joined Nortech in 2012 whilst studying a Civil Engineering Degree part time of which he later completed in June 2014.

“Following graduation, I am currently making the transition from Design to Engineering as part of a small but knowledgeable and vastly experienced team,” said Dan.

“At university I was supplied with the tools to form the engineering theory but it is within the work place that is the real education and opportunity to refine the skills and apply them to real life scenarios.

“I feel fortunate to have been provided with such an opportunity to work towards my chartership within such an interesting and challenging industry.”

Grant Dickinson, Junior Piping Designer at Nortech said he grabbed the opportunity to work for Nortech after completing a 2 year Mechanical Engineering course at Middlesbrough College because Nortech provided him with the perfect platform to acquire the training to produce work at a quality level.

“Moving closer towards the goal of being a designer I completed my HNC course at Teesside University and gained skills from Nortech which included helping me interact with clients on a professional level.

“Eager to learn and progress in my career, I am now completing a HND, before progressing onto a degree. I have benefited greatly from on the job training at Nortech and very much looking forward to progressing my role with the company.”

Laura Dickens, Project Controls Trainee joined Nortech Solutions back in 2012, after a career change from her former role as an English and Drama Teacher.

Coming from a non-engineering background presented initial challenges in Laura’s new role as a trainee Project Controller within the company; but it was a rewarding challenge that allowed her to gain an understanding of how projects ran in an office environment.

“My knowledge of the industry has grown over the past three years and I have seen Nortech grow in strength from employing ten people to over eighty in a short space of time.

“Within this period I have been part of project teams responsible for successfully bidding, winning and executing a range of large projects within the Oil & Gas Sector, working for various project managers within the company. I have gained experience of both planning and scheduling projects along with exposure to cost control and budgeting.”

As part of her recent development Laura is currently undertaking a Degree in Project Management through Teesside University to gain academic qualifications within the industry and gain practical skills.

Adam Healey, Electrical Design Apprentice joined Nortech in 2013 having already gained a Level 2 NVQ in Electrical Engineering.

During his first year as an apprentice at Nortech Adam gained valuable job experience through carrying out a variety of tasks, on site and in the office.

Since joining Nortech, Adam has spent time with a local training provider gaining a Level 3 BTEC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and is now studying towards his Level 4 HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

“I saw Nortech as a top employer as the company not only boasts a great reputation, but is a successful and growing establishment. Nortech are passionate about the progression and development of their staff, and this is something I am very proud to be a part of.”

If you would like to find out more about opportunities with Nortech Solutions, please visit the website.

To find out more information about The 5% Club and how to become a member, please visit http://www.5percentclub.org.uk/index.html or get in touch by emailing contactus@5percentclub.org.uk.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn as well!