The Brock Metal Company have been a major player in the supply of primary Zinc Alloys since 1947 and currently export to over 25 countries across Europe and beyond.
Following a period of investment in automating processes and factory modernisation, Managing Director Gerard Keane felt the time was right to recruit the next generation of engineer into the company, within the role of an Apprentice Quality Engineer.
“We have a fantastic, committed workforce here at Brock, but like many engineering firms we recognise the need to bring in young talent. We were committed to the idea of bringing in our first ever Apprentice and investing in the development and continued education of the right individual. But finding the right individual is not always the easiest thing to do, particularly as we are all so busy looking after the day job in a company that is achieving significant growth year on year” comments Gerard.
Enter Next Gen Makers. After understanding exactly what Brock Metal were looking for in the individual, the challenge was set to find the right individual from Colleges local to them in the Cannock area.
“It is fair to say that Brock Metal did not have the same brand recognition amongst local young people as it did within the industries that it operates” says Adam Tipper, Director of Next Gen Makers.
“However, it was clear that if we could create that awareness, once local aspiring engineers saw how interesting the place is and how attractive the opportunity of this Apprenticeship was, we’d be in with a great chance of finding a good match”.
Adopting an outside of the box approach, Next Gen Makers organised factory tours for Engineering students at local Colleges, hosted by Gerard Keane and Brock Metal Quality Manager Gill Russon, who ultimately would be the line manager of the successful candidate. Students could experience the company firsthand, meets its’ people and learn why it is a supplier of choice across multiple sectors in over 25 countries.
Once CV’s of interested students had been reviewed and interviews conducted, Next Gen Makers worked closely with South Staffs College to organise work experience for Matthew Jones, who was set to complete his Level 3 B-tech Extended Diploma in Engineering.
“Matthew was the standout candidate for the Apprenticeship and we wanted to give him the opportunity to see if Brock Metal was right for him and also for us to see how he got on in our working environment too. Being our first Apprentice and bearing in mind that we will be investing in a HNC and further education, we felt that it was important that both parties could see a long term view to this” adds Gerard Keane.
After completion of a successful week’s work experience, Matthew was successful in being offered the Apprenticeship, an offer which he was happy to accept. In September, Matthew will commence the Apprenticeship and will further his study at the new Cannock based Engineering Centre of South Staffs College.
Gerard concludes: “We are delighted to have Matthew on board as our new Apprentice Quality Engineer and look forward to him starting the Apprenticeship in September. Matthew is a great addition to our team and I am sure that his enthusiastic approach and eye for detail will ensure that he is successful throughout his Apprenticeship and beyond”.
Brock Metal takes on first ever Apprentice via Next Gen Makers & South Staffs College
