DEVIZES company Cross Manufacturing is again on the hunt for people to apply for its apprenticeship programme.

Cross has a long reputation for training its own apprentices and its longest serving member of staff with 72 years’ service, Ralph Flower MBE, was one of its original apprentices.

It employs about 400 staff at its factory on Hopton Industrial Estate and is a world leading maker of aerospace seals, aircraft piston rings and custom seal rings for aircraft engines, steam turbines, vehicle turbochargers and control valves.

Jo Heffernon, from the apprentice recruitment team, said: “Cross shows continued dedication to apprentices by investing in a dedicated training school with experienced engineers delivering training to a very high standard.

“Current apprentices have said they enjoy the mix of hands on learning and that they feel they are continuously progressing.”

The company typically takes on between four and eight apprentices a year and is offering a three-year apprenticeship starting in the summer and seeks anyone aged 16 or over who show interest in science, maths, engineering and design technology.

Apprentices will earn a salary working with experienced engineers and getting practical experience of processes such as milling, turning, welding and hand work along with producing reports and training to understand technical data and drawing.

Cross is holding an open evening on Wednesday, April 15, at its north site factory at 6pm where would-be apprentices can talk to current ones, see the factory and find out more.

Vacancies exist for mechanical and electrical/mechanical apprenticeships with a deadline for applications being May 29.

To register interest in attending an open evening, visit www.crossmanufacturing.com and fill out an application form.