ENGINEERING
NATIONAL AWARD HAT-TRICK
Opportunities – more than 200 apprentices have come through Intelect ’ s apprenticeship programme .
Tees company named in apprenticeship top 50 for third successive year WORDS : PHILIP TALLENTIRE
Intelect ’ s commitment to recruiting and training apprentices continues to reap rewards in terms of nationwide recognition . Once again , the firm has been named in the Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers table after appearances in 2022 and 2023 . In fact , Intelect has a top 30 treble , having finished 17th , 27th and 29th in successive years .
The rankings celebrate England ’ s outstanding small and medium-sized apprentice employers and Intelect is one of only two North-East companies to earn a place in the top 50 .
Managing director and former apprentice Fran Cormican , who founded the firm in 1997 with three equally ambitious partners , is proud that Intelect continues to “ fly the flag ” for the region .
“ We ’ ve been in the top 30 for three years running and it ’ s a huge pat on the back ,” he said .
“ We get invited to go to the Houses of Parliament for a celebration ceremony with representatives from all 50 companies .
“ When we first started it would have taken a long stretch to imagine an invite to the Houses of Parliament ! To be on that platform is great recognition for a company from Teesside .”
Based at Riverside Park , and with additional offices in Leicester and Grimsby , the company provides electrical and mechanical engineering solutions to a wide range of clients nationwide , predominantly in the food and beverage sector and the utilities industry .
The commitment to offering apprenticeships to talented young people continues , with more new starters set to join the company this autumn .
Intelect ’ s reputation for providing exceptional training means there ’ s no shortage of demand for their apprenticeships .
“ There ’ s a genuine drive from young people to come and work here ,” said business operations manager Lily Brothwood .
“ This year we are taking on a further 15 apprentices who are starting in a variety of roles , which reaffirms that we are committed to that continuation of growth and our ‘ train to retain ’ ethos .
“ When I ’ ve been interviewing young people who have been applying for the apprenticeships , they say they want to work for an employer like us ,” she added .
“ That ’ s because they ’ ve seen the awards and the recognition that we ’ ve had – we are an employer of choice for them because of that .
“ It gives people a degree of confidence that they can come here and learn a trade , grow as part of a progressive business and become part of something unique because there are not many companies that significantly invest in apprentices like we do .”
The demand for fully-qualified employees in the electrical and mechanical engineering sectors has never been greater as the Tees Valley continues to thrive .
With industrial zones such as Teesworks attracting major international companies , the requirement to offer apprenticeships to train the next generation of skilled workers is critical .
Proud – business operations manager Lily Brothwood at the 2023 Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers ’ awards ceremony .
Intelect is a trailblazer in that respect and the region can only go from strength to strength if more companies , both big and small , follow in those progressive footsteps .
“ There is support available to smaller businesses , such as apprenticeship support grants for companies thinking about the potential financial impact of apprenticeships ,” explained Lily .
“ It ’ s important to share that knowledge , work together and communicate more as a region to highlight the skills shortages and skills gaps that we need to address for the future , particularly if we want to safeguard SMEs in our area .
“ We ’ ve had more than 200 apprentices pass through our apprenticeship programme over the years ,” Lily added . “ There is a genuine opportunity to progress here at Intelect . We don ’ t just take you on and then let you go once your apprenticeship has concluded . It ’ s a career for however long you want that career to last .
“ We ’ ve had people progress from apprentices right up to project managers . Thanks to us being a small business , we ’ ve got that degree of flexibility in terms of how we can support people with their career path .”
For more information , visit Intelectuk . com
The voice of business in the Tees region | 85