Yorkshire Coast Steel Firm Opens New Training Centre for Apprentices

Severfield is opening a new training centre as a record number of apprentices join the firm.

Severfield has built iconic structures such as The Shard and Everton FC Stadium, and works in a range of sectors including commercial offices, stadia, nuclear, and defence. The firm has sites at Carnaby near Bridlington and Sherburn on the A64.

Having just welcomed a record number of 40 new apprentices into the Group, Severfield is now celebrating the opening of a brand-new Apprentice Training School at its largest manufacturing facility in Dalton near Thirsk.

An induction week took place this week for all of the new apprentices. This included a wide range of activities, from team building, to behavioural safety exercises, to sessions on mentor-mentee relationships, with the aim of emphasising the importance of support networks in career development. They also visited one of Severfield’s active construction sites and heard from senior colleagues within the specialist project management teams who themselves had started their careers as apprentices.

The newly opened Apprentice Training School at Dalton provides a dedicated production area that acts as a ‘mini factory’ for apprentices to practice manufacturing operations such as welding and grinding in an environment away from the main production lines. The company says this  "highlights Severfield’s ongoing commitment to develop future talent and support young people in harnessing the skills that are essential to the future of the construction and manufacturing industries".

Jill Jenkins, Early Careers Manager at Severfield, commented:

"We are thrilled to welcome this year’s intake of apprentices who will be integral to shaping the future of our industry. At Severfield, we are deeply committed to investing in young talent, and our apprenticeship programme provides a solid foundation of practical skills and real-world experience for young people. The new training school at Dalton is a great example of how we will support and nurture the next generation of skilled individuals, who will help drive innovation and success across our company and the wider industry."

The training school was officially opened on Tuesday 24 September, by Mark Bates, Inward Investment Sector Manager – Manufacturing, from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Mark said:

“It is fantastic to see Severfield investing in this type of facility for its future colleagues. It will act as a unique starting point for young people to learn in, as well as prepare them for the larger live factory environment. Investment such as this in training and skilling the region's manufacturing workforce of tomorrow is very much welcomed by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.”

Severfield was also pleased to welcome Susan Kitchener, Head of Apprenticeships, and Sue Graham, Apprenticeship Manager, from York College to the event. As the biggest supplier of apprenticeships in engineering for York College, Severfield say the partnership is vital in supporting the future development of local skills in engineering.

Susan from York College added:

“York College and University Centre is a privileged partner working alongside Severfield in training and supporting their apprentices to be the engineering specialists of the future. The Apprentice Training School will provide a dedicated space for the apprentices to practice their practical skills away from college and the production line. It was inspirational to meet with the apprentices at the opening of the facility – they were all so enthusiastic and positive about their apprenticeships. It was also great to meet with the wider Severfield team who are so dedicated and passionate about apprenticeships.”

Including their new 2024 intake, Severfield now has 107 colleagues undertaking an apprenticeship across the UK in engineering, manufacturing, and design roles. Of these, 33 are based at Severfield’s largest facility in Dalton, 29 at Severfield’s Enniskillen facility, in Northern Ireland, 22 at Lostock in Lancashire, 14 at Sherburn near Malton, and 9 are based in Severfield’s Carnaby facility, near Bridlington.