in General
Apprenticeships Are the Future for Surgical Instruments
The manufacture of Surgical Instruments is an industry that has been in Britain for hundreds of years. Our instrument technicians completed 7-year apprenticeships at McCarthy Medical in Basildon (formally Arnolds), which involved them training in different areas alongside an experienced technician, so they got a rounded skill base in areas such as soft metal working (tracheostomy tubes), artery forceps and retractor setting (DeBakey, Norfolk and Norwich etc). As one of the few instruments manufacturers left in the UK, we run a similar scheme, alongside the Government’s apprenticeship scheme.
An apprenticeship scheme is run in collaboration with Prospects College’s engineering department. Apprentices learn all aspects of manufacture under the tutelage of specialist technicians, supplemented by day release, to gain the appropriate National qualifications. The Despatch Department has also been encouraged to and is now undertaking, Nvqs in its’ relevant areas.
Surgical Holdings have been certified to acknowledge that they are a supporter of the National Apprenticeship Scheme. It is one of our aims, to develop young people through apprenticeships to support our industry in the future. Apprenticeships are an integral part of the future of our business.