Norco unveils new composites training centre

Having won several long-term work contracts recently, Norco’s forecasted work output has dramatically increased and it requires additional skilled workers to meet this demand. An external recruitment campaign was carried out, but the volume of skilled workers that Norco required was not available in the local area.

As a result, Norco has taken the initiative to set-up its own training centre to produce multi-skilled personnel that can move across the company’s five manufacturing facilities.

“Being based on the South Coast, we’re in the heart of the UK marine industry and we struggled to recruit capable people,” stated Norco’s managing director, Mark Northey. “This was a clear sign that we needed to capitalise on the skills already within the company and pass this knowledge on to enthusiastic people willing to learn.

“As a business, this is an excellent opportunity to train staff to the high-standard we require. Also, the apprenticeship gives people a chance to enter into the composites industry and have highly sought-after skills and qualifications for life.”

The apprenticeship programme starts in the new training centre where the apprentices are trained over a six-month period in the four types of application that are carry out at Norco: hand laminating, finishing, infusion and prepreg.

After the initial training stage is complete, the apprentices will progress into the production shopfloor for a further 30 months. Accompanying their work experience, the apprentices will complete an NVQ in Composite Engineering Level 2 & 3 and a B-Tech Diploma in Composite Engineering Level 3 in conjunction with Yeovil College over the three-year apprenticeship.

Norco plan to recruit apprentices every six months with its next intake in July 2019. The company says this is an encouraging sign for the composites industry in the UK, as there is a high demand for British quality and expertise.

www.norco.co.uk