SIERRA 57 CELEBRATES TRAINEE SUCCESSES AND EXPANDS ITS TRAINING PORTFOLIO WITH FOUR NEW COURSES
THE UK PLASTICS INDUSTRY IS CONTINUING TO EVOLVE AT A RAPID PACE; THIS ACCELERATION DEMANDING FRESH SKILLS, SHARPER KNOWLEDGE, AND CONTINUOUS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
For Sierra 57, a business wellknown for its specialist training within plastics manufacturing, 2025 has already proved to be a milestone year. Not only has the company seen a record number of trainees successfully complete its industry training programmes, but it has also responded to rising demand with the launch of four brand-new courses, designed to keep businesses and their staff ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive market.
Hundreds of trainees take the next step in advanced training
In recent years, Sierra 57 has proudly supported hundreds of operators, setters, technicians, and even team leaders and managers in enhancing their skills through its structured training courses. Each participant leaves not only with a CPD recognised certificate but also with practical knowledge that can be applied immediately on the production floor.
Group CEO Mark Lawson describes this achievement as a landmark moment for the company:
“ The numbers of trainees have been phenomenal. Just shy of 1930 trainees have benefitted from industry specific training, delivered by Sierra 57 technical trainers, since 2022- that’ s 7260 CPD hours across 766 courses.
Feedback from employers has also been incredible. They tell us that their staff return from training more confident, more capable, and more engaged. That’ s exactly what we aim for. These are key skills that directly impact productivity, quality, and efficiency for the businesses we support.
For trainees, the benefits are just as integral. Many go back to their roles with a new sense of purpose, equipped to tackle challenges that may previously have felt out of reach. From mastering tool setting to troubleshooting moulding issues, the skills learned during Sierra 57’ s programmes provide a foundation for long-term career growth.”
The need for ongoing training
The plastics industry is a cornerstone of modern manufacturing, supporting sectors as diverse as automotive, aerospace, medical, and packaging, yet it is also a sector facing pressure from all sides: higher customer expectations, stricter regulations, environmental scrutiny, and relentless global competition.
In this competitive environment, even experienced setters and technicians cannot afford to stand still. Employers are starting to recognise that investment in people is just as vital as investment in machinery- a highly skilled workforce makes the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving.
Mark adds:“ We work with companies across the UK and a constant message we hear is that training is no longer optional, it is essential. Machinery is evolving, materials are changing, and customer standards are rising. Our job is to ensure that the workforce keeps pace.”
Four new courses to meet industry demands
To meet this need head-on, Sierra 57 has launched four new training courses, each designed to address the most pressing gaps within the plastics sector. These new courses sit alongside the company’ s already established portfolio, which covers everything from beginner-level polymer materials training to more advanced injection moulding machine setting.
The four new courses focus on advanced injection moulding knowledge, problem-solving in production and efficiency optimisation:
• Morphology and Crystallinity
• TG and Design Influences
• Fluid Dynamics – Advanced level
• The Scientific Process Set-up
24 AUTOMATION, CONTROL & ENGINEERING