Amid growing concern about a skills gap in the engineering and manufacturing sector, two expanding Keighley firms have recruited staff, including trainees.

Autoclaves Group, which manufactures and refurbishes autoclaves and ovens, has launched an apprenticeship scheme to ensure it has skills to meet future growth.

It has recruited three apprentices, Curtis Schofield, 16, of Keighley, Will Dodd, 16, of Skipton, and Tom Gott, 18, of Skipton.

They are combining 18-month in-house training with studies at Bradford College, where they are taking manufacturing and engineering courses.

Managing director Russell Gibson said: “Each apprentice is offered six months’ experience in all of the firm’s specialised fields – design and project management, fabrication, and machine fitting, allowing them to appreciate what Autoclaves has to offer.

“The purpose of this rotation is to give each apprentice a direction and the opportunity to discover their own particular niche field. Our new apprenticeship programme has been instigated in response to recent research, which shows that the majority of industrial skills shortages are due to lack of technicians and apprentices.

“For the UK to compete globally, we must make certain that our world-class knowledge-base continues to evolve.

“One of the most effective solutions is to develop further education and apprenticeship opportunities to ensure we have enough skilled operatives coming through the system.”

Autoclaves Group, which is experiencing growth across all markets, including its UK and global motor sport and aerospace sectors, now employs 31 people.

The firm, established in 1999, specialises in new and refurbished autoclaves and ovens for the motor sport and aerospace industries, where autoclave-produced components are used on Formula One cars, rally cars and jet planes.

Autoclaves has diversified into the investment casting, rubber curing, glass laminating, industrial sterilising and environmental autoclaves sectors and made inroads in the industrial ovens marketplace. The business operates from a new 20,000sq ft base, allowing for further expansion.

Meanwhile, Keybury Fire & Security has strengthened its installation team with four new engineers. They include two new trainees, Jamie Pretty, 16, of Riddlesden, and John Hickman, 17, of Oakworth, and qualified installation engineers Andrew Bell and Richard Hunter.

The engineers will service demand for Keybury’s services and the youngsters will undergo in-house training.

Operations director Patrick Beebe said: “As well as providing job opportunities for local people, we want to ensure that we have enough skilled engineers coming through the system to meet potential future staffing requirements.”

Established in 1982, Keybury now employs 42 people and a regional customer base set to hit 10,000 this year. The firm has offices in Skipton, Ilkley, Harrogate, York and Leeds.