40 YEARS OF ENGINEERING EVOLVEMENT

When Roger joined Lockpanel in 1976, he had no idea, four decades on, that he would be working for a world-leading manufacturer.

Before Lockpanel became Bott Ltd and a global giant, it was a six man metal sheet folding operation. Having recently relocated from Leicester, the then Managing Director, Grahame Woodward, put on a presentation about the firm at Bude snooker club. A 16 year old Roger attended, absorbed what was being said and within weeks secured an apprenticeship.

“I love it here,” says Roger. “If I hadn’t attended the meeting in the snooker hall, and fortunately paid attention, there is no way I would be where I am today. It was the presentation that captured me.

None of us knew there might be jobs going at that stage, so there was no real reason to listen hard to show you were interested in doing something with this new company.

However a few weeks later, two apprenticeships came up and there was a direct question about metal folding processes and I knew the answer because I paid attention at the snooker hall. That one moment changed everything.”

Roger now trains new apprentices in machining practices, passing his wealth of knowledge on to the numerous new recruits joining the Bott apprenticeship scheme. Simon Willshire, Production Planning Manager, also started as an apprentice and now works in senior management, mentoring and overseeing Bott’s apprenticeship program.

“We see apprenticeships as so much more than the sum of its parts. A four year apprenticeship is essentially a full time contract, we see you as a long-term valuable member of the team – look at Roger… 4 years turned into 40 years!

Our apprenticeship recruitment has grown over the years and we now have over ten, 16-30 year old active apprenticeships. We see ourselves as industry ambassadors, recognising the careers, wealth and opportunities that a dynamic and diverse manufacturing base generates.

Roger is a classic case of right place, right time and it is his personality that has driven his career.

“I encourage everyone exploring pathways into manufacturing to consider apprenticeships and to not lose faith simply because your qualifications or subject choices haven’t given you the direction you now want. The engineering world is rich and diverse and needs every type of individual to drive it forward.”