Dorset wind turbine firm keeps growing during tough times (From Dorset Echo)
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Dorset wind turbine firm keeps growing during tough times
3:15pm Wednesday 28th December 2011 in Business By Joanna Davis
The staff of wind and turbine manufacturer Ampair
EIGHT new jobs have been created at a wind and turbine manufacturer.
Milborne St Andrew-based Ampair has created the new positions after experiencing growth in 2011 as a result of success in renewable energy.
Managing director David Sharman said the company began 2010 with seven staff.
“We now have 20 staff at the end of 2011 including the two apprentices who have just started and we are looking to hire another eight early in 2012.
“Almost all of this growth is attributable to our export markets which represent two thirds of our business,” he said.
Mr Sharman says the growth is good news for the local Dorset and UK economy and that the wind industry is expected to create 90,000 new jobs over the next decade.
Now the company has taken on two suitable apprentices it is looking for more.
Ampair is looking for four electronics/mechanical engineer apprentices and technically trained graduates for the positions of two technical sales persons, a project manager and a marketing assistant.
But Mr Sharman said he is concerned about standards among job hunters.
“We want to let people know that there are jobs out there.
“You’ve have got to be good enough, we’ve analysed 60 apprentices and taken on two.
“Standards in general have slipped. What we are after is a sufficient standard of maths, science and English.”
Ampair production manager Quentin Kelly-Edwards said it is important for the education system to ‘pull its socks up’.
He added: “The quality of the candidates leaving UK schools is lacking and, as an exporter, Ampair cannot ignore this if we are to continue to be internationally competitive.
“We provide outstanding opportunities for our staff but we are finding it hard to locate the right kind of candidate whether sourced through agencies or directly.”
For more information email people@ampair.com or visit ampair.com
