Three new apprentices for Unicut

The three new starters, Chandler Manalili, Michael Evans and Michael Gill will undergo a three year apprenticeship that will follow the comprehensive training program the company has in place for its staff.

Unicut has always strived to employ an apprentice every year however the high standards set by the Welwyn Garden City company have not enabled the company to obtain the calibre of candidate it has required in recent years.

"Training the next generation of engineers is a responsibility that every company should take,” commented Unicut’s managing director Jason Nicholson. “Whilst we haven't found the necessary skillset in the last two years, as soon as we found the available talent, we gave the youngsters an opportunity. We now have five apprentices in total."

As many technology-based businesses have discovered, Unicut found the facilities at local training establishments incompatible with its machine tools so it developed its own internal 'training matrix'. Now, the apprentices will follow a three year apprenticeship that consists of six modules that have been devised internally. With performance related incentives and day release NVQ qualifications at a local college, the apprenticeship program at Unicut has proven very successful in the eight years since the company established the program.

Mr Nicholson continues: "Our internally devised module system is very comprehensive. Apprentices will start in our manual milling, turning and grinding department and learn the fundamental basics of operating machine tools. This will evolve with an understanding of engineering drawings, tolerances and basic metrology equipment such as micrometers.

“When confidence builds and the first structured modules are completed, the apprentices will move onto using non-contact laser measuring, programming 4- and 5-axis machine tools and understanding the concept of CNC control systems. By the end of their apprenticeships, the lads will be able to write CNC programs and operate our high end 10-axis machine tools that utilise multiple spindles and tooling turrets."

Unicut Precision www.unicutprecision.co.uk