A trio of apprentices have secured full-time jobs at a Teesside manufacturer after successfully completing their courses with Middlesbrough College Group.
Xander Brown, Fynn Walker and Tom Spencer are now all panel wiremen at HC Controls in Stockton after finishing their apprenticeships at the company, which designs and manufactures control panels for customers in the petrochemical and food industries.
The three all started their journey to full-time employment with 45-day work placements at HC Controls as part of their Engineering T-level courses at Middlesbrough College.
Management at HC Controls were so impressed with the trio that each of them were taken on as apprentices with Middlesbrough College Group’s Northern Skills arm monitoring their progress and reinforcing their work-based skills with classroom learning.
All three completed their Level 3 Engineering Fitter Standard apprenticeship with HC Controls over a 45-month period, all gaining Distinctions in their assessments.
Helen Bullivant, director at HC Controls, praised Xander, Fynn and Tom for their attitude and aptitude during their apprenticeships at the company.
Helen said: “They’re all very keen to learn and they all showed willingness to learn and get involved and all fitted in well with the rest of the workshop.
“Apprenticeships are a good route for us to find the right sort of people and invest in their training, knowledge and skills.
“We have been doing apprenticeships now for a number of years and the support from Middlesbrough College Group has always been really good.
“We have now got another two apprentices going through their apprenticeships are the moment and we are looking to start someone else in September.”
Xander, 20, from Stockton, said: “I’d originally intended to do mechanical engineering, but I got a placement here and I found it a lot more interesting than what I was originally doing.
“I like the bespoke nature of the work we do here and the fact that no two days are the same – you’re always doing something different.”
Fynn, who is 21 and from Guisborough, said: “The work is varied and I really enjoy it here.
“I got plenty of support from Middlesbrough College and Northern Skills right from doing my T-levels and through my apprenticeship. My assessor Chris in particular was really helpful and I could always ask him about anything.”
Tom, 22, from Billingham, added: “There’s a great atmosphere at HC Controls and everyone gets along well. The support from the College and Northern Skills has definitely helped and they’ve always been there if I’ve had any questions or queries.”
Dawn Smith, Skills Development Manager at Northern Skills, said: “We’re delighted that Xander, Fynn and Tom have done so well in their apprenticeships and are now starting their careers in full-time employment.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see how they’ve progressed over the years right from T-levels to permanent jobs with HC Controls and support from Middlesbrough College Group.
“We work hard to ensure that both students and employers can get the best out of work placements and apprenticeships and seeing success stories like this is really rewarding.”
HC Controls is based on Portrack Interchange Business Park and is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.
The company currently employs 24 people and believes that its experiences show that apprenticeships can benefit businesses of all sizes.
Helen Bullivant said: “There’s a lot to be gained from apprenticeships. You do have to invest time and money but it pays off in the end.
“We now have three really good people in our workshop who are young, enthusiastic and have a lot to offer.”
Find out more about Engineering courses delivered at Middlesbrough College – click here.
Our latest Apprenticeship Vacancies can be found on the Northern Skills website here
