PRECISION engineering firm KMF is looking to more than double its intake of apprentices.

The Newcastle sheet metal specialist, which employs 350 people, took on six engineering apprentices last September, and this year is hoping to be able to recruit 16.

But directors say many people still have an outdated view of apprenticeships and engineering and are planning to hold two open days to showcase the cutting-edge machinery successful applicants can expect to be working with.

KMF, which is on track to turn over more than £30 million this year, has been taking on apprentices for 12 years and brought all of its training in-house around six years ago. In 2009, it invested £600,000 in a new purpose-built training centre.

Managing director Gareth Higgins said: "We do sometimes struggle to recruit the right calibre of people – I think some people see apprenticeships as something to consider when everything else has failed.

"But the opportunities are there to progress to the very highest level."

Training centre manager Jenny Conlon said that once apprentices have finished their courses, which last either two or four years, they will have the opportunity to study for HNC and HND qualifications and management training alongside a full-time job at KMF.

Stefan Rduch joined the firm as an apprentice after completing his A-levels 10 years ago and is now KMF's advanced solutions manager.

Stefan, who is in charge of the firm's £1 million advanced manufacturing facility, which deals with aerospace and medical clients, said: "Managing this element of the business, its £5 million turnover and the expected 25 per cent growth in sales is daunting, but I feel my apprenticeship has prepared me well. Being given this responsibility at such a young age is testament to the faith that KMF put in me and also the structure of the apprenticeship programme.

"My apprenticeship at KMF created the foundations for me to develop as a person and while it wasn't all plain sailing it gave me the confidence to achieve my goals."

KMF, which is based at High Carr Business Park, makes everything from coffee machines to sunbeds as well as components for first-class airline seats.

Clients include Fujitsu and Siemens.

Apprentices will also get the chance to work abroad – the firm has just opened a new manufacturing facility in Slovakia and fourth-year apprentices study German to GCSE standard in preparation for work experience at Trumpf , which makes KMF's high-tech laser cutting machines.

Jenny hopes the open days will showcase the opportunities KMF can provide.

She said: "Parents, guardians and students will get to see the factory in operation, witness the level of investment and technology that is employed at KMF and be able to chat with apprentice training staff and current apprentices."

The first open day takes place on Wednesday, February 8 at KMF from 12pm to 8pm, and is due to be followed by a second on April 18.

KMF is offering two levels of advanced apprenticeship – four-year for 16-year-olds and two-year for 18-year-olds.

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