Airedale's local MP, Stuart Andrew, met the new apprentices and graduates helping to shape the company's workforce development in Leeds.
The manufacturer says it has developed its 390-strong workforce through a forward-thinking approach towards career growth for employees.

Two such apprentices, Sam Mostacci and David Strong, have forged the same career path since they were at school together. Now both aged 18, the friends chose to study the same subjects at age 14, then opted for a two-year BTec 1st Mechanical Engineering. They joined Airedale during their first year of a two-year BTec National at Leeds City College, and have now enrolled at Grimsby Institute to study one day a week for a three-year foundation degree in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. The pair plan to continue their studies through to a bachelor degree, then a masters.

Whilst touring the facility Mr Andrew also met some of Airedale's graduates. Sheffield University graduate Carl Atkinson is studying for a Masters degree at the University of Leeds, and undertaking a 16 month KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) project at Airedale, investigating ways to bridge the gap between design and manufacture.

Joe Thomas, a masters graduate of the University of Leeds and research fellow - Knowledge Transfer Secondment (KTS) - is also working with Airedale's new product development team to create software that will streamline the use of spreadsheets across products, saving time and resources.

After meeting the next generation of employees, Mr Andrew commented: 'I'm very impressed with Airedale. It is a successful company that is making huge strides in developing its workforce for the future. It is exactly what Britain needs to ensure its position as a world leader.'

Airedale managing director Clive Parkman said: 'In the last two years we have recruited 14 newly qualified graduate engineers from universities across the UK. We have 16 apprentices on a rolling apprenticeship scheme and in July this year we opened a £0.25m training school which combines theoretical learning with practical training on high tech, fully operational rigs.'