The UK’s leading forklift truck manufacturer, Linde Material Handling, has launched an annual award to celebrate the success of its apprenticeship scheme, offering a reward with a difference for its star employees.
Linde launched its apprentice scheme in 2011 after recognising that the shortage of skilled forklift truck engineers in the UK was becoming an issue for the industry. Three years later, the scheme is still proving successful. The company currently has a total of 43 apprentices across the UK and 16 new apprentices joined the business last year.
To recognise the apprentices’ hard work and the progression they have all made, Linde has introduced the ‘Apprentice of the Year Awards’ to name one individual each year who has particularly impressed their employer. And as a special reward, the company has arranged for the winner’s name to be printed on the SCC Bloodhound, the 1,000mph land speed car.
The Bloodhound SSC project represents an extreme sporting challenge – the development of a supersonic car, built in the UK by a team of Formula 1 and aerospace experts. The aim of the project is to inspire the younger generation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics by becoming the world land speed record holder as the car is designed to reach 1,000 mph and back to rest again in 120 seconds.
Linde Material Handling supports Bloodhound with forklift truck resource through Linde Forklift Truck Hire, and by adding Nathan Jones, Apprentice of 2012, and Kyle Sagar, Apprentice of 2013, onto the car’s fin, the company has demonstrated its continued support of the project.
Commenting on the introduction of the Apprentice of the Year scheme, Mark Sullivan, Head of Customer Service at Linde, said: “We are increasingly investing more time and money into recruiting and training apprentices and it is proving to be a successful venture for Linde. For the individuals, it’s a great opportunity to enter into a highly skilled and well paid career while all the time earning a wage as they learn, while for us as an employer, the apprentice scheme allows us to invest in our staff and ensure we have a highly skilled engineer workforce for the future.
“We are delighted to have been able to add Nathan and Kyle’s names to the fin of the Bloodhound as this is a great way to make them feel engaged in the project and give them a real boost in return for all their hard work and loyalty.”
Linde Material Handling
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