Polar Technology has long been a big advocate of apprenticeships and training programmes, believing they offer a unique opportunity to find and nurture the best talent.

Two perfect examples of this are Cain and Luke, who work as Production and Project Engineers respectively. Ten years ago, Cain and Luke first joined Polar as apprentices, going on to complete both Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeships in Fabrication and Welding with the company.

Cain explained how the apprenticeship worked and how it offered him a unique insight into the business: “We were encouraged to rotate across all the various departments, completing 3-6 months in each. This was great, as it meant that you weren’t restricted to just one area or one skillset and meant that I was able to see how the business worked as a whole.”

After completing both levels of the apprenticeship after about 4-5 years with Polar, Cain and Luke decided that they wanted to keep learning and developing further, and spoke to Scott, the co-founder, about wanting to complete a HNC (Higher National Certificate). The company agreed to fund this further study, and their progression continued.

Luke explained how much he enjoyed the HNC: “I found it so interesting, there was much more of a technical element to it, and it meant I was much more aware of the broader engineering processes.”

Cain then took a further step, applying for a job in the drawing department whilst still working as a welder, and was successful. Both then pursued opportunities elsewhere, with Luke working as a Pit Mechanic for a motorsport company, a role he says he wouldn’t have got without the experience he had accrued at Polar.

However, their stories at Polar weren’t complete, with both returning to the company to take positions within the engineering office in the last couple of years.

Cain explained how he thought his apprenticeship still benefitted him in his current role: “It’s given me a really valuable way of looking at things, because I have seen multiple ways of working and have spent time in nearly every department of the production side of the business. Whereas some engineers are fresh out of university and therefore don’t necessarily think like the person who actually manufactures the part, the first thing I do is go and speak to our fabrication department and get their thoughts.”

Luke agreed, adding: “I’ve now got such a broad knowledge of nearly every single product we make, and I’ve also been in the operator’s shoes, meaning I understand the complete journey of a product, from initial design to final assembly.”

Polar Technology currently have four apprentices completing their qualifications whilst working at the company, across the machine shop, inspection and maintenance departments, and hopes to continue with the development pathways that Cain and Luke have benefitted from.

When asked what the best thing about choosing to undertake an apprenticeship at Polar is, Cain answered: “I think it’s the fact that you can clearly see the progression pathways ahead of you. And the fact that your ambition is matched by the company. If you say that you want to keep developing, they’re happy to continue supporting that.”

Luke had a different answer to the same question: “I think it’s also beneficial for both parties: the apprentices and the company. We get career progression, and the company gets experienced employees that they know they can trust. It’s a long-term investment but it pays off!”

To find out more about the apprenticeship and other training opportunities available at Polar Technology, please visit our Careers page