Birmingham-based ADI Group welcomed 10 new apprentices through its doors earlier this month, and one of them is Abbie Beaver — its first-ever female fabrication and welding apprentice.

James Sopwith, ADI’s strategic account director, said: “Having a female on the factory floor has long been an ambition of ours.

“As a firm dedicated to paving the way in many different areas, we want to ensure that our engineering opportunities are open to everyone, so when Abbie applied for the position, we were thrilled.

“She has shown great initiative during her participation in our pre-apprenticeship scheme, which we run in partnership with North Bromsgrove High School, so we are certain Abbie will go on to do very well here.”

The pre-apprenticeship scheme gives a group of youngsters the chance to get hands-on experience of engineering in the real-life work environment at ADI’s facility in Kings Norton.

Under the guidance of ADI mentors, 14- to 16-year-old GCSE students who aren’t necessarily thinking about university are exposed to new potential career pathways; 60% of ADI’s 2018 apprenticeship intake came through the scheme this year.

With ambitious plans to more than double its £82 million turnover to £200 million in the next four years, ADI is always looking for high-calibre engineers to come on board.

For information on applying for an apprenticeship, visit the Web site (www.adiltd.co.uk/careers).