Building Our Future: The NEACH Apprenticeship Programme

At NEACH, we've taken a proactive approach to addressing one of our industry's biggest challenges: the growing shortage of skilled welders. Rather than simply competing for the limited talent available, we decided to create our own solution. Here's how our apprenticeship programme is helping us build not just skilled welders, but a stronger company culture.

Like many in the welding industry, we've watched with concern as the availability of skilled tradespeople has declined. As our Managing Director Ryza Garbarz notes, "Trade availability has been deteriorating between 2016 and now. Initially, we tried the obvious solution: offering higher wages to attract talent, but quickly realised the people just weren't there. We needed a different approach”.

Four years ago, we made the strategic decision to double our talent pipeline, welcoming two apprentices annually. This measured growth allows us to maintain the quality of training while steadily expanding our capabilities.

20% of our workforce is within our apprenticeship programme. We’ve found a great balance and are providing an amazing opportunity for the next generation of tradespeople.

One of the most rewarding aspects of our apprenticeship programme has been watching its positive impact on our company culture. Our apprentices bring enthusiasm and healthy competition that energises everyone.

"There's a good culture too – they're really competitive, and there's plenty of good-natured egging on," shares Ryza. "They're very eager to achieve, including on a lot of the procedural stuff. They'll often get me to test them on something."

This desire to excel doesn't just benefit the apprentices—it creates an environment where continuous improvement is valued across the organisation.

Our apprenticeship programme has become an essential part of our business strategy. Not only has it helped us meet growing client demands, but it's also allowed us to shape the kind of workplace we want to be—one that values learning, achievement, and teamwork.

"It's been really pleasing to see that talent pool building for us, but also that it's the right kind of culture," Ryza concludes.

We're proud of what our apprentices have accomplished and excited about the future we're building together. By investing in the next generation of welders, we're not just addressing today's skills gap—we're creating a stronger foundation for tomorrow.