Leading surface coating specialist the Anochrome Group is investing in future talent by hiring five new apprentices.
It is the first time Anochrome has brought in a cohort of apprentices for many years and demonstrates the company’s commitment to developing homegrown skills to help the business to continue to grow, while supporting young people into employment in the West Midlands.
The business has recruited four Mechatronics apprentices, who will study electrical and maintenance subjects, along with a Business Admin apprentice.
All the apprenticeships are at Level 3 and are being completed in conjunction with provider In-Comm Training.
The five young people aged between 18 and 22 will be split between Anochrome’s four UK businesses in Wolverhampton and Walsall – Wolverhampton Electro Plating, Inlex Locking, Anochrome Ltd and Anotec.
Group HSE & Technical Support Manager Richard Chater, who is heading up the new apprenticeship drive at Anochrome, said: “We have had a couple of apprentices in the past, but this is the first time in many years that we have had a full cohort in a structured programme.
“Our CEO Mark Jones decided that we wanted to give something back to the younger generation in our West Midlands heartland.
“It will be fantastic to have new young blood and vitality across our UK companies, while developing the skills we need within the business to maintain our state-of-the-art machinery, including our robotic equipment.
“Many of our current operatives are vastly experienced but will one day want to enjoy well-earned retirements. This apprenticeship drive is part of our succession planning to ensure we have high-quality people in place to replace them when that time comes.
“Some of our new apprentices have come straight from college while others have tried college or further education and realised it wasn’t for them. This will give them the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience while getting paid.
“This is a really exciting move for Anochrome and I am sure all five of our apprentices will go on to enjoy a lot of success.”
The apprentices will spend two-and-a-half days a week working in Anochrome, and the same amount of time in In-Comm’s classrooms as they work towards their qualification.
Richard said that though the apprentices will be spread across four Anochrome sites, the business was keen to get the group together as often as possible to build team spirit.
Stefanos Ermidys, 18, is one of the Mechatronics apprentices having first spotted the opportunity on the government’s website.
He said: “I am with WEP, working on the machines and learning how they operate.
“I love the atmosphere here and everyone is very happy to help. I have always been interested in engineering and this is an ideal route into the industry with a well-respected company.”
The apprentices are expected to take three years to complete their programmes.
The Anochrome Group is the UK’s largest independent specialist surface coatings and metal finishing company. As well as its four UK companies, it also has businesses in Poland and the Czech Republic.