Six of the Best Show Apprenticeships in Action with Thorite 

As the UK's biggest distributor of pneumatic products and process systems, Thorite is all too aware of the problems of skill shortages facing industry and the difficulties to be overcome recruiting the right people. Higher education is the goal of many students, yet a recent study by the Institute for Public Policy Research found that graduates and A-Level students are around three times more likely to be jobless a year after finishing their courses than apprentices.

Only 5% of apprentices are unemployed after 12 months after starting their job hunt, compared with 16% of graduates and 13% of those with A-Levels. Thorite is committed to apprentice recruitment and the six apprentices it currently employs can be found developing their chosen careers in the widest range of functions the company can offer: 

Samuel Edmands(19) from Bradford joined Thorite a year ago as an Apprentice Service Engineer and already is highly competent servicing compressors for both industrial and workshop applications.

Joseph Cotterill(19) from Huddersfield also joined Thorite last year as Apprentice Marketing Assistant at the Bradford head office. He's now producing a wide range of digital literature and special product promotions, which enables him to develop his passion for photography at the same time.

Christopher Scott(16) from Bradford started work this year as an Apprentice Pipe Fitter. Once his apprenticeship is successfully completed he will be competent to work on air compressor and pipework installations for Thorite's industrial, manufacturing and processing customers throughout the UK.

Dominik Hull(22) from Bradford represented something of a landmark for Thorite when he was appointed their first ever IT Systems Apprentice last year. This was also Dominik's first experience of employment after 3 years at Bradford College and he's now responsible for supervising the computer system and solving operational problems at head office.

Adam Dyson(16) from Bradford was recently appointed as Thorite's Apprentice Systems Engineer. His role will be to help develop the key technologies within Thorite's expanding Systems Division including electronic control systems, field-bus systems, servo/stopper motor control systems, linear actuator control systems and data acquisition systems.

Lewis Gordon(18) from Gateshead is Thorite's latest apprentice and will be based in the company's North Shields Sales and Service Centre. As an Apprentice Compressor Service Engineer he will be trained to carry out planned and emergency maintenance on compressors, both locally and nationally. 

Thorite's Managing Director, Stephen Wright, is impressed by the success of the company's apprentice recruitment policy and said: "Apprentices used to be the life-blood of industry in the past and I'm delighted that we are still able to recruit and train capable young people who will doubtless progress to be vital members of our staff in future. I understand that one in seven employers were forced to leave an entry-level post unfilled in the last three years, as they were unable to find candidates with sufficient mastery of the three Rs and a positive, proactive approach to work. Whilst Thorite has had similar issues for some entry-level roles we have not encountered such problems with recruiting apprentices, probably because we work closely with a range of Government-backed staff providers and training establishments throughout the north. Couple this with our commitment to provide ongoing opportunities to develop our apprentices' individual expertise and business skills and I'm convinced that apprenticeships are the logical way to provide the greatest benefits for both employers and those searching for really rewarding employment." 
 
Photo shows: Back row left to right: Dominik Hull, Lewis Gordon , Sam Edmands.

                                Front row left to right: Joe Cotterill, Adam Dyson , Christopher Scott .

Further Information: Ross Gowler - Thorite Marketing and Engineering Services Director

Tel: 01274 663471. Email:ross.gowler@thorite.co.uk 

Note to Editors

A family owned business since its foundation in 1850, Thorite has grown to become theUK's largestdistributor of pneumatic products and process systems. From its head office in Bradford, which also houses the company's state of the art National Distribution Centre, showroom and trade sales centre, Thorite has expanded to create a regional network of pneumatics Sales and Service Centres in Blackburn, Bolton, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Leeds, Rochdale, Sheffield, North Shields and the West Midlands. 

Thorite, Thorite House, Laisterdyke, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 8BZ.