AS PART of National Apprenticeship Week, Ian Keeley, manufacturing engineering manager at the Blatchford Group, based in Lister Road, has explained how apprentices are crucial to the business.

Blatchford has been in business for nearly 130 years.

One of the core activities that we are involved in is the design and manufacture of prosthetic devices for lower limb amputees.

As a company we design, test, manufacture and assemble very complex artificial knees, ankles and feet and as such, we require a high degree of technical ability and knowhow and have struggled to get this skill level in the local area.

To support the needs of our business and to ensure we have all of the skills required to maintain a high level of quality, we have established an apprentice programme that will enable skilled young people to learn the complexities of manufacturing engineering with the support of experts and many years of combined experience.

We currently have five apprentices nationally, with two of those based in Basingstoke, one of which has just been recruited.

Danielle is starting her training with us this month and will train to become a skilled manufacturing engineer learning how to manufacture complex components in a wide variety of materials.

As part of the apprenticeship she will spend time in the main business functions which will give her a more rounded experience and knowledge that will help her in becoming a better engineer.

Being exposed to the other departments also has the potential of sparking an interest in different roles which may enable Danielle to develop and grow into other things – personal development and progression is something we take seriously.

A modern manufacturing engineer has to become proficient in a wide range of skills - from being able to cut metals to a very accurate tolerance, to designing bespoke machinery and processes – and then present this to their peers and managers for review.

There is a great mix of hands on, practical work and also planning, designing and developing novel processes. It’s an interesting job with lots of variety.

I myself started the same journey over 20 years ago as an apprentice toolmaker, making press tools to produce components for the automotive industry.

From this foundation I went on to manufacture components for many industries including aerospace, motorsport, automotive, and power generation.

All of the skills and knowledge gained through these experiences has enabled me to succeed as the manufacturing engineering manager at Blatchford, where I am responsible for designing, commissioning, maintaining and improving the processes we use to make market leading prosthetic limbs which enable amputees to lead a full and rich life.