January 30, 2012 - Hoppecke Industrial Batteries has taken on the first two employees through its new apprenticeship programme. The scheme is designed to bring young people into the motive and rail battery manufacturing and servicing industry and give them a rewarding career in the sector.
Colin Williams, 28, was a battery builder working in the warehouse but to enable him to go further in his career Hoppecke gave him an apprenticeship in battery engineering, working with a mentor, Service Manager Tony Robinshaw. The plan is for Colin to become an on-the-road service engineer repairing batteries and fork lift chargers on site and the career path could lead to him ultimately becoming a Service Manager.
"The job I'm doing now is more technical than being a battery fitter," Colin says, "and it's something I wanted to do since I started working here. But I was keen to start off from the beginning, work my way up and understand how it all works."
The second employee to be taken on is Rachel Farr, 19, who has joined Hoppecke as a purchase ledger trainee straight from college. "It was a great opportunity so I was delighted when I got on the scheme," Rachel says, adding: "It's good, I'm really enjoying it."
Hoppecke believes that practical training is the most important component of an apprenticeship and theoretical training deepens and anchors the knowledge gained from on-the-job training. A mentor is also a key factor in the scheme, giving apprentices guidance and following their progress.
Hoppecke Industrial Batteries’ UK Sales & Operations Director David Millett says: "The logistics sector affects everybody's lives – what they eat, what they wear, transport systems – but it doesn't get the attention that, say, the manufacturing industry receives. We really need to see a much stronger emphasis on apprenticeships in logistics.
"That's why we believe in giving our young people the best possible support to enable them to reach their full potential. Colin and Rachel are just two examples and we aim to bring on many more apprentices throughout 2012."
- Ends -
HOPPECKE was founded in 1927 and is now the leading specialist for industrial battery systems, and at the same time the largest battery manufacturer in European ownership. Hoppecke offers to its customers throughout the world, concepts for efficient and reliable power supply for every industrial application. A leading exponent of environmental care for more than 80 years, Hoppecke offers solutions for a variety of industries including motive power, reserve power for IT/telecoms, power stations, solar energy and UPS, special power for rail and underground. It is a European leader in recycling of industrial batteries, and operates its own recycling foundry for lead-acid batteries, thereby making a substantial contribution to careful husbanding of resources. Hoppecke invests heavily in innovation and has one of the largest R&D departments in the industry with an estimated 5 per cent of turnover being ploughed into R&D to bring new battery technologies to market. Its UK operation is based in Newcastle-Under-Lyme in the Midlands.
Media contact:
Sue Tupling
Changeworks Communications
T. + 44 (0) 1785 247588 / + 44 (0) 7703 023026
E.
Company contact:
David Millett
Hoppecke Industrial Batteries Ltd
Unit 2 Lowfield Drive
Centre 500
Wolstanton
Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 0UU
T 01782 667305
E:
W: http://www.hoppecke.co.uk
Tags: industrial batteries, forklift batteries, engineering apprentices, ,
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