Sheffield’s transit packaging innovator, Loadhog has established a partnership with one of its major suppliers, Lincolnshire-based Luxus, the UK’s leading technical plastics recycler, to enhance the learning experience of each company’s apprentices.
Each ‘job swap’ will be between four and eight weeks, enabling the apprentices to gain an in-depth understanding of the technical processes which support product development in both companies – allowing effective transfer of both skills and knowledge.
Loadhog will demonstrate to Luxus apprentices how polymers are used within its injection moulding processes to develop products which solve the handling and logistics problems for global supply chain customers.
They will also develop their skills further by working with Loadhog’s specialist team of designers and engineers within its ‘Ideas and Innovation’ centre on product design, prototyping, material selection and testing.
Ed Stubbs, Loadhog’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to join Luxus at this time when the need for engineering focused apprenticeships has never been greater. By announcing our partnership during National Apprenticeship Week, we hope to attract increased interest from young people – both graduate and non-graduates who enjoy technology and problem solving and would like to become future engineers.
“This partnership I’m sure will bring a greater depth to our apprentices’ understanding and will support both companies as we strive to stay ahead of the competition by manufacturing market leading products – this can only be achieved by nurturing new talent to secure the future for both companies.”
While with Luxus the Loadhog apprentices will gain a better understanding of how the company’s technical polymer alloys, with a high recycled content, are sourced and formulated in its in-house Technical Centre to support Loadhog’s specific product requirements and those of manufacturers globally.
Peter Atterby, Luxus managing director, explains: “We have known Loadhog from its early formation, as we have a long standing relationship of over 40 years with Hugh Facey, , Chairman of Loadhog and its parent company, Gripple. It is our shared thinking and values that we believe will benefit our apprentices’ career development.”
Both businesses have won top industry awards recently: Loadhog was selected by The Institute of Mechanical Engineers as the UK’s Best Small to Medium Enterprise in its 2011 Manufacturing Excellence Awards. Luxus was named the North East regional finalist for the ‘HSBC Business Thinking Award’ and intends to add at least two new apprenticeships to its Academy in 2012.
For more information on how to become an apprentice with either company please visit www.loadhoglids.com or www.Luxus.co.uk.
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