Manufacturer ramps up recruitment drive
An influx of new business for one of the region 's leading manufacturing firms is behind a series of new appointments and a ramping up of the company 's ongoing recruitment drive.
In the last six months alone, West Bromwich-based Weatherite Air Conditioning Limited has recruited 26 people in various positions including eight new apprentices across the group of companies.
The firm is a leader in the design and manufacture of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment.
A part of its drive for new employment, Weatherite has pledged substantial investment into its Apprentice Training Scheme, ensuring the company has new talent with which to plan for future growth.
It reaps the rewards of its investment in the scheme and has a steady flow of high achievers - many of whom choose to carry on with their education after their initial apprenticeship is completed.
Weatherite achieves this through on-going relationships with local school and colleges which encourages pupils to pursue a career in engineering.
Angela Hall, HR Manager at Weatherite Group, said: “Many of the candidates are not seeking an academic future, preferring instead to learn 'on the job ', whilst obtaining a relevant qualification. The candidates we employ demonstrate that they have the right attitude and a willingness to learn and, as history has proven time and time again, we can help them become high achievers in an exciting and dynamic industry.
“We have a great rate of well over 80 per cent of our apprentices remaining with us for many years after gaining their qualification. Many also choose to enrol further on part-time courses, and we are happy to sponsor and fully support them in their future studies, ” Angela continued.
“We do not see the demand for business diminishing in any way and will continue to look for ways to actively increase our presence in the West Midlands region and the HVAC marketplace. It is therefore imperative that we invest in new talent for the future. ”
The company has also invested heavily in expanding its premises and purchasing new machinery to cope with increased sales demand.
Angela added: “We have a great employment retention figure, employing more than 200 people mostly from the local area. All companies operate as a team. I believe that this is reflected in our ability to attract and retain a high calibre of employees - at all levels of the business.
“We are confident that the opportunities we are creating are sustainable, and staff feel valued, supported and able to enjoy a fulfilling career at Weatherite Group. ”