A Newcastle-under-Lyme engineering company has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to train the workforce of the future by taking on two school leavers as apprentices.
Mitchell Lavery, 16, and Charlie Henaghan, 17, are joining Ford Mainwaring at its base at the Centre 500 business park in the Etruria Valley.
The duo will work with engineers at the mechanical and electrical building services company four days a week and attend college once a week.
Mitchell, who is following in the footsteps of his father by joining the firm, has signed up to an apprenticeship as a plumber with the aim of becoming a gas engineer.
Charlie, whose ambition is become an electrical engineer, learned about jobs at Ford Mainwaring while attending an open day held at Port Vale FC.
Daniel Bailey, Director of Ford Mainwaring, said: “While we work on contracts across the country, we look to nurture and grow our team here in North Staffordshire, and place a high level of importance on giving training opportunities to local people.
“Charlie and Mitchell will benefit greatly from working with our time-served team and will learn trades which could sustain them throughout their whole careers.
“It’s beneficial to Ford Mainwaring too, as apprenticeships are known to add to a loyal, able and stable long-term workforce.”
The company plans to take on its first T-level student and has committed to taking on a student from the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group to give them valuable experience during their Building Services Engineering for Construction course.