Rowan Precision celebrated an important milestone during
National Apprenticeship Week last week, demonstrating its commitment to developing the next generation of engineering talent, with apprentice Ricardo Morgan officially completed his apprenticeship programme.
The Birmingham-based precision machining specialist, known for its advanced CNC capabilities and long-standing support of UK manufacturing skills, described Ricardo’s achievement as “a moment of real pride for the business,” emphasising its belief that apprenticeships remain central to the future strength of the sector.
Ricardo, who joined Rowan Precision as part of the company’s structured technical apprenticeship pathway, has spent the past several years rotating through machining, quality, metrology and assembly, developing the hands-on and analytical skills required in modern engineering. Rowan Precision says his achievement is a testament not only to his own dedication but also to the firm’s long-term investment in training and capability building.
Glenn Aston, CFO, said: “We are incredibly proud of Ricardo’s achievement and delighted to see him complete his apprenticeship journey with such professionalism and commitment. Apprentices like Ricardo bring energy, curiosity and new thinking into our business. They form the backbone of the future engineering workforce, and we are determined to play our part in helping them thrive.”
The company confirmed that Ricardo’s development will continue, with planned progression into additional competencies, such as computer-aided design (CAD), process planning, and advanced manufacturing systems. Rowan Precision says this next step reflects its strategy of nurturing multi-skilled engineers capable of supporting increasingly complex aerospace, medical and defence programmes.
Talent pipelinesRicardo’s success comes at a time when the UK engineering sector faces growing pressure to replenish its workforce. National apprenticeship data released this month showed only marginal increases in new starters across manufacturing and engineering, with industry leaders warning that skills shortages could intensify if more businesses do not actively cultivate their own talent pipelines.
Rowan Precision has long positioned itself as part of the solution. The company continues to recruit apprentices each year, integrating them into real production environments supported by advanced machinery, AS9100-accredited quality systems, and experienced mentors. The aim, it says, is not only to meet its own future workforce needs, but to strengthen the wider UK supply chain.
Karen Harrison, head of operations, said: “Engineering apprenticeships are essential to securing the future of British manufacturing. We are proud to support Ricardo — and all our apprentices — as they grow into the next generation of skilled engineers that our industry urgently needs.”
As Ricardo’s certificate is formally added to the achievements of ‘Team Rowan’, the company hopes his journey encourages more young people to consider technical apprenticeships as a respected, high-value route into modern manufacturing. Rowan Precision’s message is clear: the future of advanced engineering does not happen by accident. It is built — one apprentice, one achievement and one investment at a time.