MORE than 400 employees with 5,000 years of experience combined ... the opportunities for young people at an international chemical manufacturer are great.
Cristal, based in Stallingborough, a major sponsor of the newly relaunched Your Life: Your Future campaign, has been providing work experience and opportunities for decades, and has been taking on apprentices since the 1960s.
Director Philip Long said: "This year, we have taken on ten apprentices.
"There is a clear skills shortage in our industry, not only locally but also nationally.
"We are all fighting over the same people, which is why we provide our own training and apprenticeship schemes.
"During the past ten years we have had 50 full-time apprentices who have taken part in vocational NVQ qualifications.
"Coming to train with us leads to a good career and a well-paid job.
"Depending on what sector the apprentices choose to go into, they do up to four years training.
"Getting young people into work locally is key for the future of our area.
"The courses start every September and if anyone is interested, they can get in touch through their education provider."
Apprentices at Cristal go into four main areas of training, mechanical trades, laboratory, instruments and electrical, as well as the process sector.
As well as apprenticeships, Cristal also offers a graduate scheme in chemical engineering.
Technical training co-ordinator Stuart Morgan said: "By training our own apprentices to work at our site we can shape each person into what we need.
"This is also beneficial to the apprentices because they know everything they learn is relevant.
"By taking apprentices from the local area we find that people stay loyal to us and go on to work with us.
"All the training costs are paid for by the company and we offer a range of mentoring and support opportunities for all our apprentices."
Maintenance training officer Ron Ingoldby said: "I started as an apprentice in 1976.
"It has obviously changed a lot since then, but it gave me a good grounding and started my career.
"What we provide here is a very good opportunity. Apprentices can go on to do a degree with us, which is sponsored by the company.
"For people who do not know what they want to do they should come and find out what we have to offer."
The Grimsby Telegraph is currently trying to put 200 students in work experience across a broad range of industries as part of the Your Life: Your Future campaign.
If you could offer a work placement as part of it, e-mail dan.russell@gsmg.co.uk or call 01472 372236.
