Guttridge Ltd, one of the UK۪s leading manufacturers of materials bulk handling equipment, is working with universities across the UK to provide inspirational insight into the world of manufacturing. The company۪s highly successful placement and intern programme draws students from the fields of engineering, design, IT and production and is now into its third consecutive year. By allowing undergraduates to work on projects from inception to completion it aims to inspire participants to take up long term careers in industry.
Peter Guttridge, Chairman, is personally committed to the scheme. It is important for undergraduates to gain a true picture of what it۪s like to work in industry and hopefully be enthused by what manufacturing has to offer. We make sure that our placement students see a project through from start to finish so that they get a really broad experience. The feedback we۪ve had has been really positive , with participants saying that this approach compares very favourably with the experience of spending the whole year working in just a single area.
The placement offers a high level of involvement with live jobs from the outset and the opportunity to take on a significant level of responsibility. Working within a supportive team structure, students take a project from the earliest stages of defining customer requirements, through design, manufacture, material and machinery testing, to delivery and commissioning.
Guttridge seeks out students who are enthusiastic, open-minded and have a willingness to learn about engineering and the business. Historically the company has a particularly strong relationship with Loughborough University but increasingly candidates are drawn from other institutions, wherever there are students with suitable aptitude pursuing a relevant course.