Hopefield Fab investing in the future of local teens

Hopefield Fab – industry leaders in producing metal bar tops, over bar glass racks, under-counter units and decorative metalwork – are celebrating a year of hosting three apprentices.

With a management team with over 80 years’ experience; they are the ideal traders to learn from. Current Hopefield Fab apprentices are Corey Salisbury (16), Jake Sawden (19) and Dion Davies (18): all attending Alliance Learning Centre, Horwich. Though they are all coming up to the end of their first year at the company, they are in different stages of their learning, with Corey and Jake undertaking their first year and Dion his third year of the Fabrication and Welding apprenticeship.

Gary McClung, Managing Director of Hopefield Fab Limited, commented:

“We understand that we provide a one of a kind service and we are keen to share what we do with budding fabricators. I doubt many youngsters start a course at college or leave school thinking I want to fit pewter metal bar tops for a living and we want to show them what else is out there that might stray away from traditional labour work. It’s an exciting and interesting career to undertake: no two days are the same and you meet a wealth of different people.”

Whilst it’s an interesting career, it isn’t an easy one – very often the company receives only a designer’s visual and then has to figure out how this can be practically manufactured. Apprentices have to show initiative and will learn to have the ability to work out the cost of production, how to match designer’s expectations, and nurture their creativity."

Corey Salisbury said about his apprenticeship with Hopefield Fab:

“It’s great to earn some money whilst gaining a qualification – the best of both worlds really. I work between college and the company so I get a variety of experience, especially with the practical side of things which is great as I like being hands on. We work with quite high profile clients at Hopefield which I really enjoy and the team are great to work alongside, too. I’m currently working on a bespoke piece for The Ivy Hotel, Birmingham, and decorative screens for Mitchels and Butler in Kettering.”