With its eye firmly on the future, Tamworth-based Industrial Tooling Corporation (www.itc-ltd.co.uk) has taken on two 16-year-old apprentices who have just completed their GCSEs: Sam Boulstridge and Grant Everitt.

Managing director Peter Graves says: “As part of our ambitions for growth, we were looking for new staff, and it was worryingly apparent that there is a wealth of experience in the market in the 50-plus age bracket but very few qualified engineers below that age.

"We already have a Year 3 apprentice — Kyle Turner — who is very competent; his attitude and work ethic encouraged us to take on more apprentices.

“The new apprentices will start by learning the basic skills such as etching, chamfering and understanding engineering drawings, then progress to programming the CNC grinding machines that manufacture our cutting tools.

"Learning how to make high-quality precision tools on some of the newest technology available will be a great bedrock for the future careers of these young people. In addition to this, our apprentices will have the opportunity to learn their trade from some of the most highly skilled people in the industry.

"We are very proud of our existing staff in all departments, and we are pleased to have these new faces on board.”