Automotive manufacturer TMD Friction has announced that it is creating five new apprenticeship roles within the business.
The vacancies are in a range of disciplines, including IT, maintenance and Research and Development.
TMD Friction has a long history of recruiting apprentices and currently has over 20 people working in training and development roles.
Alongside that, the company also has a proven track record of retaining the apprentices in permanent, full time roles once their education placements have completed.
Just recently former maintenance apprentice Jonny Davison was offered a full time contract and is now looking at additional training programmes which will boost his chances of continuing to move up the career ladder.
Martin Haswell, Learning and Development Manager at TMD Friction, is overseeing the recruitment of the five new apprentices.
He said: “Attracting the best fresh talent is a key part of our succession planning agenda and crucial if we’re to continue to grow.
“That’s why this year we’ll be looking at recruiting an additional five apprentices, taking the total employed across the business to 25.
“Our current apprentices are employed in a range of areas, from engineering, electrical and maintenance to finance and HR and each in their own way is proving to be a real asset to the business.
“For us, it’s not just about attracting apprentices, it’s about supporting them through their learning and development so at the end of their qualification, they are ideally placed to secure permanent employment with us.”
Jonny Davison, who recently completed his apprenticeship and is now in full time, permanent employment at TMD, added: “I would strongly recommend anyone looking at an apprenticeship to consider TMD Friction. They’ve really supported me throughout my apprenticeship and have now rewarded me with a permanent contract, with real potential for me to continue to develop and move up the career ladder.”
TMD Friction is based at Oakesway Trading Estate in Hartlepool and can produce 95 per cent of the European vehicle pad range for the independent after market and currently manufactures over 400,000 parts per week.
TMD Friction, which has its only UK production facility in Hartlepool with support sites in Warrington, Cleckheaton, Seaton Ross and Darlington, has been making parts for the passenger car aftermarket since 1974 and now employs 485 people at its Hartlepool factory.