Metsec appoints four new apprentices

Leading Black Country cold roll forming specialist, voestalpine Metsec plc, has continued its investment in the future of the manufacturing industry through the appointment of four new staff members, who have become the newest recruits involved with the company’s award-winning apprenticeship scheme.

The latest intake takes Metsec one step closer to its ambition of achieving a 20% home grown workforce by 2020. The four new apprentices will all be based at the firm’s Oldbury site, where they will spend the first year of employment working from Metsec’s dedicated onsite training centre, gaining a knowledge of the industry along with undertaking workshops to develop practical metal work skills. The programme, which can run for up to four years slowly introduces recruits to the business, with greater integration and visibility as training progresses.

All four successful applicants are between 16 and 19 years of age and have been appointed after undergoing a rigorous interview process, comprising of a full day at the Oldbury site undergoing problem solving workshops, interviews and teamwork exercises.

The four new recruits are the latest to enter the organisation’s award winning apprenticeship scheme – which 43 members of the workforce are currently a product of. All areas of training provided as part of the programme are carried out in-house and the programme is open to everyone. The selection process that leads to appointments isn’t based on academic ability, but rather the ‘can do’ attitude of an applicant. As part of the apprenticeship scheme, Metsec is able to provide Maths, English and ICT qualifications as well as relevant technical certificates on-site.

The scheme, which is now into its 20th year, is a key demonstrator of Metsec’s dedication to nurturing talent from the ground upwards, something which has led to the company being named the Express & Star’s Apprentice Employer of the Year for 2014, whilst also being recognised as Business of the Year at the Business is Good for the Black Country Awards in November of 2014.

Steve Giles, Environmental Safety and Training Manager at Metsec, commented:
“Here at Metsec, we’re committed to developing our talent within the company, and allowing our apprentices to truly develop the skills from an early stage that will see them becoming industry leaders. We think that it’s vital the programme educates each recruit on site, as it allows the apprentices to feel a part of our team from day one. We have an extremely rigorous interview process, as it’s very important that the candidates we select have the correct attitude. We’re well on the way to achieving a 20% home grown workforce by 2020, which is great for Metsec.”

Click here for more information on Metsec’s Apprenticeship scheme