Pump firm’s flow of young talent
A Sunderland-based pump manufacturer is aiming to create a steady stream of young local talent as it looks to the future.
Grundfos is working with Sunderland College to recruit its next cohort of apprentices. Last year the company recruited four young people, and this year they’re looking to sign-up six to work at its plant in Castletown – with each spending their first eight to nine months at the college, before moving on to a day release.
Catherine Attwell, HR director at Grundfos, said: “We take training very seriously and a large percentage of our workforce has been through our apprenticeship programme – including our European Operations Director Mark Lister and other senior managers.
“Apprenticeships are a great way to train our workforce and we’ve long been supporters of apprenticeship programmes.”
She added: “The college shortlists candidates for us and then we interview them.” Emily Kirkup, 20, is in her
third year of a four-year engineering technician apprenticeship: Robbie Crone, 18, has recently completed an 18-month business administration apprenticeship, and Callum Quarrie, 20, is due to finish his four-year manufacturing engineering apprenticeship in July.
All three said they’ve enjoyed their training with Grundfos – with Robbie already transitioning into a full-time role as an associate planner and Emily and Callum aiming to find full-time employment with Grundfos when they complete their qualifications. Iain Nixon, vice-principal, partnershipsandcommercial for Education Partnership North East, which incorporates
Sunderland College, said: “The college is grateful to have worked in partnership with Grundfos for a number of years.
"During this time we have supported Grundfos to recruit and train apprentices to a variety of positions across the organisation and these latest apprenticeship vacancies provide great opportunities to start a career at one of the region’s premium employers.
"We are looking forward to welcoming the six new apprentices onto programmes in September.”
To apply for one of the apprenticeships, email Chris Small at chris.small@educationpartnershipne.ac.uk