SONE Products Ltd (SONE), the Stanley based supplier of innovative solutions in plastic for technically demanding markets, announces the arrival of a new intake of apprentices as part of its ongoing investment to develop manufacturing skills in support of its business growth.
SONE has created two new training positions, appointing John Ord and Anjelica Gardelin to a three year apprenticeship programme from September 2012. John, who will undertake an Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3 in Injection Moulding, will learn how to fault find, repair and understand the process controls of injection moulding machines.
Similarly, Angelica will train for a Level 3 in Electro Mechanical Engineering and will focus on building her knowledge of the electrical and mechanical aspects of production equipment.
Attending South West Durham Training (SWDT) in Newton Aycliffe full time for the first nine months of their apprenticeships, the pair will continue their training over the following two years, attending SWDT on a day release basis and gaining first hand experience working on site at SONE’s manufacturing facility for the remainder of the week.
SONE invests a significant sum of money, time and effort in training and up-skilling its workforce, thereby providing long-term career opportunities and sustainable employment in the region.
Keen to nurture new talent and ensure that manufacturing skills of this type are retained locally, SONE’s commercial manager , Trevor Siddoway, is sure that this type of investment pays dividends.
He said:
‘As a region and a company, if we are to remain competitive while at the same time produce high quality products, it is essential that we invest in the development of all of our employees, from those who are joining us through our apprenticeship scheme to others who have been with us for many years.
‘I am a firm believer in life-long learning and that training shouldn’t stop once an apprenticeship has completed. Ongoing training initiatives and the opportunity to gain advanced qualifications are in place to support this ethos.’
John and Angelica are joining last year’s intake; Kieron Baister, a Polymer Processing apprentice and Kris Lyons, an Electro Mechanical apprentice.
