A global gas cylinder producer based in Nottingham is championing the role of apprenticeships.
Ten apprentices now work at Luxfer Gas Cylinders’ factory in Colwick, including 19-year-old Puja Landa.
Puja, from Cinderhill, in Nottingham, said that she hopes her experience can help encourage others to follow in her footsteps as a female apprentice at the global gas cylinder manufacturer.
The company has said such placements are vital for the future benefit of the firm, as well as providing openings for people looking for a route into industry and the engineering sector.
The apprentices are working in design, finance, engineering and business administration.
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Puja, who studied A-levels in media, sociology and business at Bilborough College, before landing the business administration apprenticeship four months ago, said she found the opportunity on the National Apprenticeships website.
She said: "Everyone has been friendly and welcoming to me at Luxfer and I’m so pleased that I secured the role. I was initially thinking of going to university to study marketing but at the end of the first year of my A-levels I decided that the apprenticeship route was the right thing for me as I was keen to work within industry. I’m really happy that I’m doing something that I enjoy."
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As well as working four days a week at the company, she has a weekly day release studying for a Level Three in Business Administration at Nottingham College in Maid Marian Way, Nottingham.
Luxfer has highlighted the contribution of apprentices as part of this week's National Apprenticeship Week 2020 – an annual awareness week to celebrate the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy. The ‘Look Beyond’ themed week will celebrate the diversity and value that apprenticeships bring.
The firm manufactures and sells aluminium high pressure gas cylinders into the alternative fuel, healthcare, emergency service and scuba sectors, and has recently invested £500,000 into a new facility to tap into the potential of hydrogen power for transport.
Across its international sites, Luxfer has stepped in to provide its innovative products for several high-profile collaborations, including the cave rescue mission of the Thai football team in 2018 where Luxfer SCUBA cylinders were supplied to the diving team.
Puja’s role is varied, working in the department responsible for quality management systems and aspects of health and safety and environment, while supporting other sections of the business with administrative duties. She has also qualified as an Internal Auditor for ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 and within her daily responsibilities she maintains records for the factory emission to air meeting local government regulations.
She said: “I’m very pleased to be trusted with some very important jobs and I hope my story can inspire other young women to consider an apprenticeship in an engineering industry setting.”
Lynne Whittaker, HR Manager at Luxfer Gas Cylinders, said: “Before the Apprenticeship Levy came in in 2017 we couldn’t retain apprentices very easily, which was frustrating as we invested a lot of time and had some very successful apprentices. The levy pays for the apprentices to go to college and this means we can offer more apprentice opportunities, which is something we’re committed to doing. Our apprentices are very hands-on in the type of work they do at Luxfer, taking part in its day to day operation and adding real value.
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“Previously we have struggled to recruit maintenance technicians, through the levy we have taken on maintenance apprentices to bridge the skill shortage. We are future proofing the business, and they are developing important skills for their career. It’s a win-win.”
Jono Garton is a project engineer at Luxfer Gas Cylinders. Jono started on the company’s apprenticeship programme in 2007 when he left school at the age of 16.
He said: “I had been turned off by classroom learning and decided I didn’t want to study A levels.
“I graduated from the apprenticeship in 2010 and have since gone on to more study; I now have a Higher National Certificate (HNC) Electrical and Electronic Engineering and am currently studying for a degree in BEng (Hons) Engineering Management.
“Luxfer supported me throughout this process, and it has been a huge incentive to be able to earn and learn at the same time.”