Record apprentice event for Norbar
The recent Engineering Open Evening at Norbar Torque Tools reportedly broke all previous attendance records, showing that engineering is becoming increasingly appealing as a career option. This year’s event at the company’s manufacturing site at Banbury attracted 140 visitors, mainly school students interested in becoming engineering apprentices or taking a graduate route to working in the sector.
Norbar is a specialist in the design, development and production of torque tightening and measuring equipment, both manufacturing its own products and the equipment to test them. The family-run company of some 240 employees testifies to the success of UK precision engineering, exporting 75 per cent of its production and with a network of Norbar companies worldwide, the latest having been launched this year in Mumbai.
The evening featured a tour around the entire site, with guests at the event divided into small manageable groups to visit each department, from design to production and from quality control to sales and marketing. A presentation was given by Norbar staff at each point in the tour describing their projects and the priorities of their work.
[subhead] Challenges and opportunities
Managing director Neill Brodey was there to welcome guests, emphasising the many career paths available in engineering, which the Open Evening was designed to demonstrate. “We are passionate about engineering and we believe we can provide a showcase of its challenges and opportunities,” he said.
Representatives from Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, Warwickshire College and Oxford Brookes University were also on hand to provide information on apprenticeships and graduate training programmes. Peter Boyle, engineering work based manager at Warwickshire College, commented: “There are a variety of career opportunities in UK engineering, particularly niche manufacturing, with vacancies for high end craftsmen and in technical roles.”
Douglas Higgison, a principal lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, added: “This was the third time I have been to a Norbar Open Evening and it was nearly double previous attendances. A lot of people are looking at engineering careers, either through the apprenticeship route, a BTEC at college or a university degree.”
Photo caption: Norbar’s Steve Lawson gives a demonstration of software used by engineering designers.
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