22
Feb 2026
8th Feb 2026
As National Apprenticeship Week shines a spotlight on the importance of skills, opportunity and long-term workforce investment, Rowan Precision is using the moment to celebrate a simple truth: the future of advanced manufacturing is built by people.
For the Birmingham-based precision machining specialist, apprenticeships are not a side initiative or a box-ticking exercise. They are a strategic pillar of the business — and a proven route to sustaining capability in an industry under growing pressure from skills shortages, technological change and global competition.
That commitment has been brought into sharp focus by a series of recent successes, not least the progress of apprentices like Ricardo Morgan whose journey reflect both the opportunity apprenticeships offer and the responsibility employers carry to nurture talent properly.
Ricardo officially completed his apprenticeship programme in October, with final certification arriving at the end of last year — a milestone Rowan Precision describes as a moment of genuine pride. Having rotated through machining, quality, metrology and assembly, Ricardo has developed the blend of practical and analytical skills now demanded by aerospace, medical and defence customers.
His development is far from finished. Rowan Precision is supporting his progression into further competencies including CAD, process planning and advanced manufacturing systems — part of a deliberate strategy to develop multi-skilled engineers capable of operating in increasingly complex production environments.
For CFO Glenn Aston, Ricardo’s achievement is emblematic of why apprenticeships matter — and why businesses must take ownership of the talent pipeline.
“Any increase in apprenticeship starts is positive, but the reality is that we’re still only scratching the surface of what’s needed,” Aston said. “Manufacturing is transforming at pace — digitalisation, automation and sustainability are reshaping the skills required on the shop floor. The talent pipeline has to keep up, and that means employers investing for the long term.”
New national data underlines the challenge. Manufacturing and engineering apprenticeship starts rose just 0.6% year-on-year, from 45,800 to 46,070 — still well below the more than 52,000 starters seen in 2019/20. Under-19s accounted for 19,400 of those starts, reaffirming apprenticeships as a vital route for school leavers, but one that risks falling short if not actively supported.
Against that backdrop, Rowan Precision’s own apprenticeship programme stands out for its depth and intent. Apprentices are embedded in live production environments, supported by advanced CNC capability — including multi-axis mill-turn centres, sliding-head 13-axis turning and five-axis machining cells — alongside AS9100-accredited quality systems and experienced mentors.
The company has also welcomed new talent over the past year. Khadijah Zaman has joined as an Apprentice Engineering Support professional, while Sheriyar Hussain is progressing through his second year as an Apprentice CNC Machinist. William Robinson, meanwhile, has transitioned from the shop floor into a new apprenticeship to further advance his career — a pathway Rowan Precision believes is critical to retaining experience while developing future capability.
One particularly encouraging trend in the national data has been the sharp rise in Machining Technician apprenticeships, increasing from 250 to 1,200 starts in a single year.
“That growth is genuinely encouraging and closely aligned with what companies like ours need,” Aston said. “Precision machining is a critical capability for UK industry. Rebuilding and strengthening that skills base from the ground up is essential.”
Rowan Precision’s approach is also shaped by the growing convergence of digital and mechanical engineering. With digital technology apprenticeships now accounting for more than 31,000 starts nationally, the company sees hybrid skillsets as unavoidable.
“The next generation of engineers will need to be as confident with data, automation and digital systems as they are with traditional machining,” Aston added. “Embedding digital capability into engineering apprenticeships is fundamental to competitiveness.”
As National Apprenticeship Week continues, Rowan Precision hopes that stories like these recent successes within the business — help reframe apprenticeships as a high-value, future-proof route into modern manufacturing.
“Our apprentices are proof that when people are given the right environment, they flourish,” Aston said. “Investing in talent is good for Rowan Precision and essential for the future of British manufacturing.”
The message is clear. Advanced engineering does not happen by accident. It is built deliberately — one apprentice, one opportunity and one long-term commitment at a time.