Member Article

Growing company opens doors to budding engineers

A growing, family run business which designs and manufactures material handling equipment and bespoke battery handling and storage solutions has opened its doors to budding engineers keen to learn more about the industry.

A-TECH Fabrications Ltd in Newton Aycliffe is run by John Manners and makes products for use in the automotive and distribution sectors. As part of the Schools Engineering and Enterprising Challenge, which is held every year to introduce young people to the world of work; promote the engineering and manufacturing sectors; promote apprenticeships; and develop skills, knowledge and expertise within the fields of engineering and manufacturing, the company opened its doors to students from Teesdale School.

They were also given a demonstration of robotics manufactured by Yaskawa UK Ltd, a specialist robotic manufacturing company that has its headquarters in Banbury, Oxfordshire and its regional base within A-TECH on the Aycliffe Business Park. Jennifer Manners, co-owner of A-TECH Fabrications said: “As a growing regional company that is always on the look out for talented new recruits to add to our growing workforce, we know how important it is to invest time in our young people as they are the future of our industry.

“The Teesdale School students we had on site got a lot out of their visit and hopefully it has given some of them a real appetite to pursue a career in the fields of engineering or manufacturing, which is what the Schools Engineering and Enterprising Challenge is all about.”

The students discussed a marketing plan, how money works in business and the various disciplines involved in production at manufacturing companies like A-TECH Fabrications. They all took part in a production line exercise which was delivered by Manufacturing Excellence, a specialist consultancy and training company based in Catterick.

Organised by the South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum, and supported by the Teesdale Action Partnership and Manufacturing Excellence, the challenge is open to schools across South Durham and gives participants the chance to develop ideas, work as a team and provides the opportunity to meet local businesses. Students were able to learn about business planning, marketing, project management and research and development.

Shaun Stuart, South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum Manager, who organised this year’s challenge and the visit to A-TECH Fabrications, said: “This visit was all about giving the students who were involved in the challenge the chance to see for themselves how one of our growing companies operates, and also to hear from some of their industry experts on life in the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

“Everyone involved got a lot from the visit and who knows, some of them could go on to become an A-TECH Fabrications employee in the not too distant future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .