Apprentice Training
By establishing its own apprentice training academy Progressive Technology demonstrates its long-standing commitment to positively contributing to the growth of the UK’s mechanical engineering skill base.
Neville Kitley is PT’s in-house academy training manager. Having spent a successful career in precision machining he now shares his experiences and engineering skills training and mentoring Progressive’s new talent across a mixture of workshop and classroom settings.
Typically, Progressive Technology enrols six apprentices for its September entry, although due to increased trading levels, conversations are currently being held to augment the numbers of students employed.
Initially, the apprentices divide their time between PT’s Academy and college learning engineering theory and practising their skills on a range of centre lathes, vertical milling machines, surface grinders and pillar drills. They produce a range of manually machined, technically advanced components and functioning assemblies. Ultimately, they will produce an exceptionally high standard of CNC machined parts for premium motorsport, aerospace or medical industries.
Five years on, 26 ambitious mechanically minded individuals have been, or are being trained to produce complex precision components on some of the industry’s most advanced CNC equipment. Retention of Progressive’s apprentices is especially high, with 96% still working inside the business. Its a validation of the positive working environment the company’s M.D. Ross Pinchin created and maintains.
Progressive Technology is especially proud of it’s young recruits, four of whom have won the annual “Apprentice of the Year Award” at our partner college during the last five years.
Progressive’s newly qualified apprentices are offered a permanent role from within a wide range of the group’s engineering capabilities. For example; multi axis CNC machining, inspection & quality, composite pattern production or additive manufacturing.
