Sector Focus
Historic steel firms are saved
Two steel companies in West Bromwich have been saved from going bust, one of them more than 400 years old. As a result of D&J Steels Limited
and Bromford Iron & Steel being saved, some 50 jobs across two sites at Bromford Lane, Oldbury, have also been preserved. The two businesses have been
sold by Mike Denny and Matthew Hammond of PwC, who were appointed as the pair’s joint administrators. D&J Steels Limited is a specialist
steel stockholding business serving the engineering, forging, fabrication, oil and gas sectors since 1970. Bromford Iron & Steel, which can
trace its roots back to 1610, is a leading producer of hot rolled flats, sections and custom profiles supplied worldwide. Mr Denny said: “We’re delighted
to have achieved going concern sales for both businesses during a challenging time for the steel industry. The sales have preserved all jobs within the businesses. “We’re pleased with the outcome
achieved, which ensures the long history of steel processing on this site spanning over 400 years continues.”
Manufacturing
Training partnership to nurture future engineers
Budding engineers can take a vocational route all the way to a degree thanks to a new partnership between In-Comm Training and the University of Wolverhampton. A new HNC Higher Apprenticeships has been launched, which has already attracted 20 people who wanted a more practical route to gaining the highest possible competences and qualifications.
‘You can access funding through the levy to upskill your people to the highest possible level’
The HNC element of the programme is an
intensive year-long course, which can be funded by the Apprenticeship Levy and includes 12 technical modules, which are being delivered at In-Comm’s technical academy in Aldridge and the university’s engineering campus. Students have the opportunity to focus their
learning through elements, such as engineering and manufacture, design, research, business improvement techniques and new product development. “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people
and more mature workers to gain competences and technical skills that will provide an accelerated pathway to higher education and career progression,” said Bekki Phillips, managing director at In-Comm Training.
Learning path: Engineering students can undertake a new vocational course
“For the first time, someone who has completed a
Level 2 or Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship can accelerate their learning by completing the HNC Higher Apprenticeship that will then lead to their Degree Apprenticeship. “This ultimately means that from starting an
apprenticeship at 16 you could have the equivalent of a degree by the time you are 22. “From a company point of view, you can access
funding through the levy to upskill your people to the highest possible level or even give existing workers the opportunity to broaden their technical horizons.”
74 CHAMBERLINK November 2019
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