The company, which is part of the Engineering Technology Group, has seen its order book treble to around £1million in the past three years. This is mainly down to a resurgent automotive industry – with carmakers expanding and commercial vehicle makers retooling to meet tighter diesel emission controls.
Hyfore's hydraulic fixtures are used for fast and accurate clamping of parts such as diecast cylinder heads, brackets and bearing caps to hold them securely in place during machining.
Managing Director Gary Dickenson believes that the young people going into engineering apprenticeships today have a golden opportunity to build successful careers. The rising age profile of today's skilled workers means that anyone starting now as an apprentice toolmaker could well be a manager in ten years' time.
“When we looked at the average age of people in our company and in precision engineering in general, we realised we had to do something to develop the skilled workers of tomorrow. We have a number of people coming up to retirement age and when we looked to find subcontractors to help us cope with a bulging order book, we realised that there were not many people under fifty in those companies either.
“Anyone going into an apprenticeship now has a real opportunity to fast track their career,” he enthused. “In ten years' time they will be the managers. That's a real opportunity and they will be able to command a decent wage too.”
To support its training programme, Hyfore has invested in a dedicated apprentice area on its shopfloor, with a new training lathe and milling machine as well as a surface grinder and fitting bench. This is part of a £125,000 investment programme that has also seen the company invest in new design software and machine tools.
One apprentice, 20 year old Sam Chadwick, is already in training, and Hyfore is working with Midland Group Training Services to recruit two more. A significant step for a company with just 24 employees.
Mr Chadwick is the first person in his family to work in engineering. He says he had been looking at possible opportunities on the Internet and saw it as a good career choice. “It has been a good decision,” he stated. “I am enjoying it and looking forward to building my career.”
Hyfore's production director, Darren Underhill, added: “If you go to university and spend £9,000 a year on fees you come out with a degree you may not be able to use and a massive debt. With an apprenticeship you not only get a qualification, with all your offsite training costs covered by your employer, but you get paid too. We have found plenty of keen young people wanting to take up apprenticeships and this is obviously a big motivation.”
Hyfore Engineering
www.hyfore.com
ETG
www.engtechgroup.com
