CO2 laser manufacturer Luxinar has employed 10 former Ron Dearing UTC students in a range of apprenticeship roles as the business continues to grow.
Luxinar, a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC, has installed thousands of lasers worldwide for use in a vast range of industries and applications and the company has now taken on apprentices from the employer-led school for the second consecutive year.
The apprenticeships range from Quality Assurance (QA) and Information Technology (IT) roles to workshop positions and a range of general engineering posts based at Luxinar’s headquarters at Bridgehead Business Park in Hessle.
Apprentices in the general engineering positions experience each area of the business on a rotation basis as part of their two-year Level 3 apprenticeships, including manufacturing, service, after-sales, soldering and wiring.
Dan Greenacre, 18, is completing a Level 3 Engineering Technician apprenticeship over three years and also studies at East Riding College one day per week.
Dan, who studied double Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “I’m based in the workshop at Luxinar and I’m making parts for lasers, as well as picking up any repairs for customers. I’m really enjoying the job and being part of a great team.
“Being a student at Ron Dearing UTC helped me to be sure of what I wanted to do. I learnt a lot and the staff were so helpful. I’m looking forward to progressing at Luxinar.”
Aiden Tiffany, 18, is completing a one-year Level 3 Improvement Technician apprenticeship at Luxinar and is supported by Leeds-based external training provider Springfield Training Ltd on a regular basis.
Aiden, who studied double and single Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “My apprenticeship is going really well so far.
“I work in the improvement team to find solutions to problems and make sure they don’t happen again. I also carry out dispatch inspections on the lasers before they’re distributed.
“I always knew I wanted an apprenticeship because you can learn on the job, combine the theory and practical elements and get paid.
“Ron Dearing UTC supported me to get the qualifications I needed and helped me through the whole application process. Luxinar is a great company to work for.”
Aimee Laws, 19, is completing an 18-month Level 3 IT Technician apprenticeship at Luxinar and is also supported by Springfield Training Ltd.
She studied double Digital Technology and single Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC and is currently coding software to digitise documents connected to the lasers at Luxinar.
Aimee said: “This is exactly what I wanted to do. It’s challenging and a big project for the business but I’m really enjoying it.
“I learnt coding at Ron Dearing UTC and it has given me a head start in my apprenticeship. Working a 40-hour week at Ron Dearing UTC has also helped with the transition to a working environment. I’m excited for the future.”
Luxinar appointed four Ron Dearing UTC apprentices within the business last year, taking the total number to 14 with this year’s intake.
Chris Newman, Learning and Development Lead at Luxinar, said: “This is the first year we’ve had QA, IT and workshop apprentices because they’re new positions within the business. As we’ve taken on Ron Dearing UTC apprentices before, we knew they’d be up to the challenge and they’ve proven that.
“They’ve arrived with a professional attitude, they’re very friendly and they all have a willingness to learn and ask questions, which is down to the grounding they’ve had at Ron Dearing UTC.
“The feedback from their managers has been excellent. We couldn’t have asked for more and they’re exceeding our expectations, building on their skills and growing in confidence. We’re looking forward to seeing them progress.”