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Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2024
with Surgical Holdings
In honour of National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Surgical Holdings –an award-winning, family run British manufacturer
and repairer of surgical instruments – highlights the exceptional opportunity the campaign offers to celebrate the bene昀椀ts
of apprenticeships in cultivating lifelong skills. With a proud history spanning 35 years, the company’s commitment to
nurturing the next generation of talent is deeply rooted in its DNA.
Q: Can you describe a typical day and what you’re
likely to be learning?
A: “A typical day for me involves working on repairing surgical
instruments. This could mean using hand tools to realign and
set instruments, or manufacturing components for repairs.
Throughout the process, I’ve gained some really valuable insights
into manufacturing components and instruments using operating
machinery and hand grinding. I’ve also had the opportunity to learn
about the different types of instruments and the incredible skill
that goes behind ensuring that they work exactly as they should. No
two days are the same!”
With education at its core, Surgical Holdings proudly boasts over 昀椀ve
decades of accumulated knowledge and expertise within its Southendon-Sea workshop. A key pillar of the company’s mission is to help develop
the skills and con昀椀dence of young people through apprenticeships. This
ensures the transfer of invaluable knowledge from one generation to
the next, as they train the future generation of instrument makers and
medical device professionals.
As a family-run business, Surgical Holdings prioritises providing ample
opportunities for growth and advancement to its staff, many of whom
begin their journey with the company as apprentices. Managing
Director Daniel Coole’s own trajectory is a great testament, having
started his career as an apprentice in 1995 to gain diverse skills across
the business. Today, former apprentices hold esteemed positions such
as Operations Manager, Assistant Factory Manager, and specialised
Repair Technicians, demonstrating the company’s
commitment to nurturing talent from within.
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week,
Surgical Holdings shares a special Q&A with one of
its apprentices, Jamie, who highlights his journey
and experiences.
Q. Why did you apply for an apprenticeship?
A. “I applied for the apprenticeship because I saw it as the best way to
learn a highly skilled trade, build on my skills and experience, and
lay a solid foundation for a career in this industry. I am currently 6
months away from 昀椀nishing my 5-year apprenticeship. Before this,
I was studying Engineering and CNC machining at PROCAT college,
so it felt like the perfect next step to gain some real hands-on work
experience in a really interesting industry.”
Q. What aspect of your apprenticeship have you found
most enjoyable?
A: “The best part of my apprenticeship has been the opportunity to
shadow skilled technician closely, which is the best way to learn
the trade. Manufacturing and repairing surgical instruments both
require a lot of skill and precision. We’re taught right from the start
that even the tiniest imperfection can have huge implications for
patient safety. That’s why paying attention to every detail is so
important. Getting hands-on experience has been really great for
understanding these intricacies. I’ve also enjoyed having the chance
to develop and apply practical skills to complement my knowledge
of engineering, particularly in a 昀椀eld that’s so challenging.”
Finally, what are your goals for the future, and would
you recommend apprenticeships to those looking to
take that 昀椀rst step?
A: “In the future I hope to broaden my knowledge on repairing and
manufacturing surgical instruments, as well as my knowledge on
engineering in this 昀椀eld. Absolutely, I think apprenticeships are
great for gaining some gaining valuable skills and learning trades. I
would recommend apprenticeships for young adults looking to get
into a high skilled 昀椀eld.”
Upskilling the next generation
At Surgical Holdings, there is a profound understanding that mastering
the art of hand-crafting surgical instruments to exceptional standards
is not something which can be taught in a classroom. It is a traditional
skill that can only be honed through hands-on experience. As such,
their apprentices all have a deep appreciation for their craft. From
understanding the intricacies of the equipment they manufacture to
recognising its vital role in patient care, this ensures that quality and
passion in infused in every step.
Daniel Coole, Managing Director, said; “Apprenticeships have been
integral to Surgical Holdings development over the past 35 years. Many
of our managers and key staff members started as an apprentice, and
over the past 10 years, we’ve expanded our apprenticeship programme
to include technicians and administrative. Currently, we have 3
apprentices, and we’re eager to bring more talented young individuals
into our team as our business expands.”
Surgical Holdings UK is proud to be a certi昀椀ed supporter of
the National Apprentice Scheme, and the company manages
a regular apprenticeship scheme in collaboration with
Prospects College of Advanced Technology.
For more information, visit:
https://www.surgicalholdings.co.uk/apprentice-scheme.html
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