OVER twenty years after finishing their own apprenticeships in the River Tyne’s yards, the trio behind a fast-growing engineering business are now helping the next generation follow in their footsteps.
Engineers Ryan Armstrong, Jonathan Daniels and Steven Hogg set up Stellar Engineering last year having spent the bulk of their careers working across the globe.
Tired of working overseas and living out of suitcases, the South Tyneside trio decided to take the plunge and use their combined 60 years’ experience to set up a business of their own.
Fast-forward 12 months and the firm now employs 15 people and provides 3D CAD engineering design solutions to some of the biggest names in the semiconductor, renewables, oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries.
However, it was the opening in May of a new Hebburn head office at Monkton Business Park which has proven to be the trio’s most fulfilling moment to date.
Capable of housing up to 45 members of staff, the office has seen the company onboard its first five apprentices, all of whom reside in South Tyneside, and with plans in the pipeline to create more opportunities for young people, they have bold ambitions for the future.
“Prior to launching the business, each of us travelled the world for work due to the lack of opportunities locally,” Ryan said.
“As a result of the lack of work in the region, there has been a significant skills gap in engineering design. This is why we have established an apprenticeship academy to ensure the knowledge transfer to the next generation of designers and engineers in the area.
“The recent opening of our new office, coupled with extensive renovations, has provided us with an excellent platform to grow. We have created a comfortable environment where our employees can thrive and do their best work.”
The first five apprentices are Jake Dudley, Elise Quilt, Paul Leonard, James Robinson and Joe Carlin, all of whom have joined through TDR Training.
“It’s a project which we care so much about because all three of us served our time in apprenticeships on the River Tyne through various local training companies all those years ago, and here we are providing the same opportunities to the next generation,” Jonathan added.
“They will each spend four days at the Stellar office with on-the-job training on live projects and one day studying for their HNC at TDR.
“We’re planning to recruit a new cohort every year to build up the skills base as we continue to grow our apprenticeship academy and help provide the same career opportunities to the borough’s young talent as we benefited from.”
The six-figure investment into the new office, apprenticeship academy and new software and hardware has been supported by £33,000 in funding from the South Tyneside Business Growth Grant, delivered by South Tyneside Council. The project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Steven added: “It is an honour and privilege to invest in the future of our community by creating jobs for apprentices.
“Our commitment to delivering projects on time and to the highest quality standards will be the foundation of our growth. We aim to expand Stellar Engineering by continuing to earn the trust of our current clients and by welcoming new clients to our portfolio.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to South Tyneside Council for their support through the grant scheme. Not only that, but we’ve also joined the South Tyneside Pledge which has opened the doors to numerous local suppliers who we’ve now incorporated into our supply chains, from health insurance providers to IT support companies and creative agencies.
“With the ongoing support of South Tyneside Council, The Pledge and our clients, we look forward to contributing to the local economy and helping to shape the careers of the next generation of engineers.”
Cllr Margaret Meling, lead member for economic growth and transport at South Tyneside Council, said: “We’re thrilled to have been able to support Stellar Engineering through the South Tyneside Business Growth Grant and to have them sign the South Tyneside Pledge.
“Both projects were established to stimulate economic growth in the borough and help create more opportunities for local people and what Ryan, Jonathan and Steven are doing aligns perfectly with those values.
“It’s vital that we ensure our future workforce is equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able to benefit from career opportunities, and apprenticeships are key to developing that pipeline of talent. It’s fantastic that Stellar Engineering are providing these young people with that first step on the ladder.”
For more information on property and workspace in South Tyneside visit: investsouthtyneside.com/sites-and-premises/
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