44 | Tees Business
A
mine of
information
Tees Components
turns former
ironstone
milling shop into
£100,000 training
centre
A
n historic building converted into
a £100,000 training facility at Tees
Components has been officially
opened by Redcar & Cleveland Council
leader Mary Lanigan.
The family-run engineering firm has
equipped the facility with STEM-standard
equipment as it continues to increase the
number of apprentices it recruits each year,
as well as supporting the upskilling of its
existing workforce.
Situated on the Tees Components’ six-
acre site at North Skelton, near Saltburn,
the 19th-century building was a former
milling shop for an ironstone mine.
The considerable investment has created
seven training stations, which feature
manual and computer numerical controlled
(CNC) lathe turning, manual and CNC
milling, surface grinding and bench work.
The development includes the
introduction of two new machine tools
for the training facility – an XYZ CNC and
digital readout (DRO) manual mode milling
machine and Colchester Harrison M300
manual lathe.
In addition, the centre also includes a
workshop classroom area complete with IT
facilities.
On average, Tees Components previously
recruited two apprentices per year, which,
The future – apprentice Daniel Peart, 16,
from Skelton, with Tees Components’
managing director Sharon Lane (second
left), Middlesbrough College principal
Zoe Lewis (second right) and Cllr
Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar and
Cleveland Council, at the opening of Tees
Components’ new training centre.
from this year, has been doubled to four
as part of its continuing commitment to
apprenticeship recruitment and training.
Tees Components is now encouraging
Year 11 students completing their GCSEs
this school year to apply for its increased
apprenticeship places by submitting their
CVs to the company.
The firm recognises the value of practical
training, with 40 per cent of its skilled
workforce and much of its management
team starting out as apprentices.
Tees Components is also dedicated to
the continual development of its workforce
and the investment in the new facility
follows the company’s highest ever spend
on the upskilling of its staff.
To ensure all personnel have the
opportunity to develop their skills base, the
company has provided additional training
in areas such as 3D CAD-CAM software,
ILM leadership qualifications, ICT, IOSH and
NEBOSH safety training and mental health
first aid.
The company’s focus on skills
development and career opportunities also
extends beyond its own operations and it is
highly active in the local community.
Managing director Sharon Lane is
a governor of Middlesbrough College,
working in an advisory capacity for its STEM
Centre, and the business has established
strong links with local schools.
In addition, office manager Claire
Meadows is an enterprise advisor, working
with Outwood Academy Bydales as part
of a scheme run by Tees Valley Combined
Authority to strengthen relationships
between employers and education.
Tees Components also provides
work experience placement and tours
of its facilities to local pupils, while its
apprentices regularly attend skills fairs and
act as ambassadors for STEM careers and
apprenticeship training.
The official opening was also attended
by principal and chief executive of
Middlesbrough College, Zoe Lewis,
together with representatives from local
secondary schools and Cllr Mary Lanigan,
leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council.
Cllr Lanigan said: “I was delighted to
officially open this fantastic facility here
in East Cleveland. I think it’s wonderful
that Tees Components have invested so
much into their training centre, helping
young people launch their careers with an
apprenticeship and enabling their current