AESSEAL, one of the world’s leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems, has many apprentices training with Bradford College. Operating 69 businesses across 108 locations and serving over 100 countries, including a manufacturing facility in Bradford, the company places apprenticeships at the heart of its workforce strategy.
Apprenticeships play a crucial role in AESSEAL’s long‑term success, explains Darren, Learning & Development Manager and Head of Apprenticeships. With around 10% of the workforce approaching retirement age, he sees apprenticeships as essential to succession planning and future stability. “We’re looking at how to keep the survivability of the business over the next five years and beyond,” he says. “Apprenticeships make up a large component of that because we need young talent coming through to backfill spaces and strengthen our early careers pipeline.”
For AESSEAL, apprenticeships also support wider goals such as upskilling the local community and improving social mobility. Offering meaningful roles in engineering, business administration and specialist technical areas allows the company to give people a strong start in a well‑established industry. “We want to give opportunities for meaningful work,” Darren says. “It’s about experience, skills building and helping people move forward.”
From a business standpoint, the impact is clear. Apprentices bring energy, curiosity and a natural openness to change. “Most apprentices are really keen to learn,” says Darren. “They’re active change agents from the offset.” Their willingness to ask questions makes them powerful contributors to innovation and continuous improvement. Many of AESSEAL’s younger employees have even influenced major internal projects, such as the introduction of new automated systems. “They come with a fresh perspective, which we encourage,” he says. With around 70 apprentices on programme at any given time, AESSEAL has created a culture where new ideas are welcomed and valued.
Apprenticeships have also allowed the company to shape talent from the ground up. Through structured progression routes, AESSEAL can identify future leaders while supporting every apprentice to reach their potential. Their internal “Ones to Watch” programme highlights high achievers and allows the company to map out personalised pathways, whether that’s supervisory roles, higher‑level qualifications, or specialist engineering routes. “We need a pathway for the future stars of the business,” Darren explains. “Apprenticeships are a key part of that.”
For engineering roles at the Bradford site, Bradford College has become a natural training partner. The longstanding relationship between the two organisations is built on trust, communication, and the College’s ability to offer both Level 2 and Level 3 pathways. “There’s a proven pathway with Bradford College,” Darren says. “They offer level two and level three engineering routes, which opens the door for a wider pool of people.” This inclusive approach ensures that talented individuals aren’t overlooked just because they don’t initially meet higher entry requirements. “We could be missing out on really good talent otherwise,” he adds.
The support and communication from Bradford College have also strengthened the partnership. Darren highlights the value of the College’s involvement in AESSEAL’s onboarding and selection processes, as well as the ongoing communication from their workplace assessor. “Syed from Bradford College’s Apprenticeships team, is really communicative,” he says. “He gives us regular updates and has the best interests of the apprentice at the centre of his work ethic. He’s very collaborative — if we want to tweak something, he works with us to get things done.”
One apprentice who stands out for Darren is Jamie, who began his journey at the Bradford site as a CNC Machinist straight from school. With support from both AESSEAL and Bradford College, Jamie progressed all the way into a deputy manager role. “I’m really proud of Jamie,” Darren says. “He understands the apprentice journey, he’s a massive advocate for new apprentices, and he’s front and centre in supporting the continuity between the College, the business and the apprentices.”
For other employers considering taking on apprentices, Darren’s message is clear:
“Do it. If you don’t, you’re missing out on a huge talent pool that could do magnificent things in your business if given an opportunity.”
To find out more about employing an apprentice, click here.
