Stelrad has taken on five apprentices as production technicians for a two-year period, as part of its drive to provide career opportunities to local young people.

Stelrad has formed a partnership with local training company RNN Training and the apprentices will divide their time between work-based learning on the job at Stelrad, and regular skills learning at Rotherham College.

Mark Evans, operational training and competency officer at Stelrad, said: “For the first year, the apprentices will have set time periods across different departments. They start off in the office doing a few days with HR, one day with Credit Control and Purchasing and so on, so they can see the whole Stelrad process in action, from the production of the material to distribution.”

This varied and hands-on approach has proven popular with the apprentices, with the new learners commenting that the training was a good opportunity to understand all the different aspects of the business, which will give them insight into which area they would like to progress into after their apprenticeship has been completed.

Having been an apprentice himself, Mr Evans understands the advantages of learning on the job. He said: “Our operations director and our production manager trained as apprentices like I did. We all think it’s a great opportunity for these guys to develop themselves and their skills, and for us to invest in our local community.”

Stelrad hopes to expand its apprenticeship intake in the future, branching out into different areas as the partnership with RNN Training progresses. Mr Evans said the company is hoping to bring in an intake of four or five apprentices every year and that, in three or four years’ time, they will be the people training other apprentices.