Wilton Engineering has welcomed 16 new apprentices who have begun their training at Hartlepool College of Further Education, as part of the firm’s ongoing commitment for Building Today to Protect the Future by developing the next generation of skilled engineers.
The new recruits have started their training at the college’s specialist Fabrication and Welding School, where they will gain the fundamental skills required for their careers in fabrication and welding. Once they complete this initial phase, they will move to Wilton Engineering’s extensive 113-acre site on the banks of the River Tees at the Port Clarence Offshore Base.
At Wilton, the apprentices will work alongside the company’s highly skilled workforce on large-scale, complex fabrication projects. They will also continue their learning in Wilton’s on-site apprenticeship academy, where they will be supported by NVQ assessors as they progress towards a Level 3 qualification in Metal Fabrication or Plate Welding.
The new apprentices range in age from 16 to 31 and include two existing Wilton employees who are retraining from their previous roles as Trade Assistants to pursue skilled careers in engineering. Their addition brings the company’s current number of apprentices to 45, underlining Wilton’s strong pipeline of future talent.
Wilton Engineering has a long history of investing in apprenticeships, with many former apprentices progressing into senior roles within the company. Its apprenticeship programme is a cornerstone of its workforce strategy, ensuring that the business can meet the complex demands of its projects while supporting skills development and career opportunities in the Tees Valley.
Bill Scott OBE, Chief Executive of Wilton Engineering, said: “Apprenticeships are absolutely vital to the sustainable future for all companies, and we are committed to a continual cohort of apprentices for many years to come. at. With a long-term and growing order book, we need a regular intake of motivated and talented people who can develop with us and contribute to the success of our business.
“We are immensely proud of our apprenticeship programme, which not only provides opportunities for young people but also for those already in our workforce who want to upskill or retrain. Seeing apprentices progress, achieve their qualifications and then go on to play key roles in our projects is hugely rewarding.
“I’d like to thank Hartlepool College of Further Education for their continued support. From the foundation skills developed at the Fabrication and Welding School to the ongoing guidance while apprentices are earning and learning on site with us, their contribution is an integral part of making this programme a success.”
Gary Riches, Vice Principal, Hartlepool College of Further Education, said: “We’re proud to work with proactive employers like Wilton Engineering, which see the clear benefit in apprenticeships.
“We talk about transforming lives at the college and what that means is we give the apprentices the knowledge, skills and behaviours, as well as the attitude and confidence that will help them thrive. We do that in a safe and inclusive environment so they can learn all the practical skills they need to go on to become qualified tradespeople.”
