Trailer manufacturer Cartwright to open its doors at Stockport College in a bid to attract new apprenticies

Leading Altrincham based commercial trailer and body manufacturer Cartwright is set to hold an Apprentice Open Day at their purpose built Cartwright Centre within Stockport College.

The open day will be held on Saturday 31st May as part of its recruitment drive for 40 new apprentices to join the business in August this year. Following the open day, successful applicants along with their families will then be personally invited to The Cartwright Group for a site tour of the factory.

Organised in conjunction with Stockport College, the open day is already attracting considerable interest from throughout the region from individuals who wish to embark on a career in manufacturing and engineering.

It is open to both those who have applied or are considering to apply for an apprenticeship and will provide an opportunity to gain a greater insight into what is on offer, take a tour of the college facilities as well as speak to the directors, staff and apprentices.

Stockport College, which also plays a key role within the recruitment process, will too have a strong presence on the day and will be on hand to answer any questions about the training on offer.

This latest intake will be the third year Cartwright has run its highly successful apprenticeship programme and will take the total number recruited over this period to 120.

Applicants are being invited to apply by logging on to www.cartwright-group.co.uk/apprenticeships.

The bespoke two year apprenticeship programme has been developed in conjunction with the college and leads to a Level 2 Engineering apprenticeship as part of which the apprentices attend Stockport College on day release for workshop training. On successful completion of Level 2, and subject to interest and aptitude, there will be an opportunity for the apprentices to continue to Level 3 and ultimately HND level to further enhance their career prospects within the industry as has already been demonstrated previously within the business.

The course materials are specific to the Cartwright operation which is an approach that has paid dividends.

In their first year the apprentices will undergo six rotations within individual departments every eight weeks so they can experience each stage of the manufacturing process before selecting an area in which to specialise.

The fact that The Cartwright Group designs and builds products from scratch is a major advantage and provides apprentices with the opportunity to learn the end to end manufacturing process within one company.

During their apprenticeship they will develop a comprehensive set of skills in welding, hydraulic, electrical and air fitting and testing, general fitting and assembly, machine operation, finishing, pre-delivery inspection and design. Indeed a high percentage of the apprentices are already providing valuable input particularly in welding and coach building which are two popular areas among the new recruits.

The Cartwright apprenticeship programme is one of the most ambitious in the industry. It has been a resounding success with retention rates well above the average. It is one which will ensure that Cartwright maintains the necessary skill sets required to drive the business forward.

"Cartwright is one of the leading providers of apprenticeships in the region and very much set an example for others to follow," commented David Forrester, Deputy Curriculum Area Manager Construction & Engineering of Stockport College. "We currently have over 80 apprentices taking part and by next year this will have increased to over 100 as some of the year two apprentices move on to study for their Level 3 NVQ qualification.

"It is a scheme which has been a huge success and one which showcases what can be achieved through the commitment and dedication which Cartwright provides. They are a fantastic company to work with and the feedback which we get from the apprentices is extremely positive."

The open day will take place at Stockport College, Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3UQ Saturday May 31st from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. . It will be followed by the next stage of the selection process – a three-day workshop and practical assessment at Stockport College which will comprise a mix of workshop activities, teamwork and theoretical skills.

The successful applicants will commence their apprenticeship in August with a four week block induction to cover health and safety and functional skills at Stockport College, followed by up to 23 months of working four days a week at The Cartwright Group and one day a week attending Stockport College on day release until they pass all training and assessment standards.

Mark Cartwright, Group Managing Director, commented: "Our people are very much the backbone of our business and it is therefore vital that we secure the legacy by encouraging new blood into the industry.

"Our apprentices have become an integral part of our organisation and are making a valuable contribution to the manufacturing process. It is very much our intention to continue to nurture and develop fresh talent and provide them with the necessary skills to pursue a career in manufacturing within the commercial vehicle marketplace."

For further information about the open day at Stockport College please contact Julie Holden, HR Manager on 0161 928 0966 or via e-mail: Julie-holden@cartwright-group.co.uk