Eight At The Starting Gate

As the demand for skilled extruders and manufacturing technicians continues to rise, Eurocell is searching for eight new apprentices.

The programme will run at the company’s main manufacturing site in Derbyshire in partnership with West Nottinghamshire College.

The initiative will support the training and development of the next generation of manufacturing and engineering technicians, ensuring Eurocell’s production lines remain at the forefront of emerging extrusion technology while also addressing the sector’s ongoing skills gap.

Employment challenge

It comes as almost all manufacturers (98%) agreed in a recent survey that hiring and retaining skilled team members is a key challenge, while Make UK finds that around a third of all vacancies in the industry are hard-to-fill due to a lack of skills, qualifications or experience in the candidate pool.

Apprenticeship Levy

Supported by the Apprenticeship Levy, the programme will see eight Manufacturing Extrusion Technician apprentices benefit from off-the-job and on-the-job training using industry-standard equipment and processes at Eurocell. Apprentices will also benefit from attending training sessions at West Nottinghamshire College’s state-of-the-art Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing in Sutton-in-Ashfield, a purpose-built facility for engineering and manufacturing students.

Andrew Cropley MBE, Principal and Chief Executive, West Nottinghamshire College said: “We are very proud to be working in partnership with Eurocell, bringing exciting opportunities for local people to become future shining stars in the engineering industry. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to supporting the regional economy, boosting high-level technical skills, and creating clear progression routes for those embarking on rewarding careers in this critical sector.”

Local talent

The 18-month long programme offers local talent a clear pathway into industry. Apprentices will develop competencies across polymer extrusion operations, engineering, process optimisation, health & safety, quality assurance and continuous improvement methods. This structured approach – aligned throughout with modern processes and quality standards – is designed to set up apprentices for a successful career in manufacturing.

Joy Naylor, Eurocell’s Director of Manufacturing and Recycling at Eurocell, added: “We recognise the importance of addressing growing skills gaps in the East Midlands, especially for specialist extrusion, manufacturing and engineering technician roles. That’s why we’re investing in apprenticeships to build a core team of future experts equipped with the skills and mindset to adapt to emerging technologies and the evolving demands of modern manufacturing.”

The programme reinforces Eurocell’s long-term commitment to sustainable manufacturing and technological innovation, while also supporting the wider region’s industrial resilience into 2030 and beyond.

Recruitment is set to begin in spring 2026 and continue throughout the year, with all successful applicants expected to start their apprenticeship studies in September 2026.

Picture: The team at Eurocell is Eurocell is working with Nottinghamshire college to build tomorrow’s fenestration workforce.