Town Foundation funding manufacturing job

The Town Foundation’s mission to give an apprentice the chance at a career in manufacturing has entered its final stage.

This week three local youngsters are being interviewed and subsequently one individual will be selected to serve an apprenticeship at machine tool manufacturer and distributer 600 UK, which is based in Heckmondwike.

After inviting applications for the apprenticeship, which will be funded by the Town Foundation using proceeds from the Manufactured Yorkshire 13 exhibition in May 2013 (click HERE for more info), a shortlist of 22 names was put forward by apprenticeship experts KITS of Brighouse.

The final three were selected in due course and attended meetings at 600 UK in Heckmondwike on Wednesday, from which the chosen candidate will be picked.

Town Foundation Trustee and Club Chairman Dean Hoyle said:

“We’re now reaching the closing stages of this new and important project for the charity.

“Our ability to select and fund an apprentice was made possible by the successful Manufactured Yorkshire 13 conference, which was held in collaboration with Hillrich and John Walton Machine Tools Ltd. The money generated from that has allowed us to place one young person from Kirklees into an apprenticeship for a year.

“However, that was only one part of the task and we’re delighted that we have got support from 600 UK, who will give our chosen apprentice a fantastic opportunity to get on the job training and experience for a further 12 months as well.

“The charity’s aim is to make a difference to the lives of children and young people in our community and we this initiative will really impact in a very positive way. The standard of applicants was incredibly high and we feel the project will be of all-round benefit to everyone involved.”

Howard Bamforth, Sales Director at 600UK, added:

“As a major engineering company in the Kirklees area with a long tradition of training young engineers, we are delighted to team up with the Town Foundation in its apprentice scheme.”

Mark Young of John Walton Machine Tools said:

“600 UK is a company of great tradition and longstanding in the area, encompassing TS Harrison, Colchester Lathes and Pratt Burnerd International brand of Machine Tools. The recent regeneration of the business itself has seen massive modernisation of their business model and premises. I firmly believe this will offer the successful apprentice an excellent start in a career in manufacturing, and a multitude of engineering disciplines to learn to boot.”

For more information on the Town Foundation, please visit www.htafcfoundation.com