Lancashire manufacturer celebrates a century of skills training

One of the region’s oldest manufacturing businesses is celebrating its youngest recruits as it marks 100 years since welcoming its first apprentices.

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, Darwen based company, Ritherdon and Co, has been looking back through its archives, uncovering astonishing vintage photographs of the firm’s very first apprentices.

Ritherdon opened its doors to three sheet metal work apprentices a century ago, when the then 14 year old school leavers joined the family owned firm at its original Bolton factory.

The three Lancashire lads, George North, Charlie Gilibrand and Bill Crowther, remained with the business their entire working lives, clocking up an impressive 150 plus years between them.

Now led by fourth generation of the Ritherdon family, managing director Ben remains fully committed to developing the skills of future generations as the company continues to develop and manufacture world leading products.

The company design and manufacture steel enclosures, cabinets and other products for the highways, construction, EV charging sector and fire protection industry and works closely with training organisations throughout Lancashire, including Runshaw College and Training 2000.

Ben said: “Being a manufacturer with such a long history, we have had the privilege of opening our doors to dozens of apprentices over the decades.

“In fact, this year marks 100 years since we took on our very first apprentice in 1926. Bill trained as a sheet metal worker closely followed by George and Charlie, in 1928, all of them staying with the company their entire working lives until they retired.”

Apprenticeships and investing in training are as vital to the success of the business today, as in its earlier days, says Ben.

“Many of our apprentices stay with us after qualifying, using the skills they have learned to further improve our business.

“Our current production manager, Danny, was a former apprentice and has now taken charge of the shop floor operations and Arron, another, is now in charge of our paint shop.

“Our apprentices have always achieved a great deal of success, using the skills they have acquired with us to enhance their abilities and move into even more highly specialised areas of manufacturing.

“This includes our former apprentice welder and metalworker, Harry, who used his apprenticeship training with Ritherdon to secure a metalworking job all the way in Australia!”

 With the development of digital technology, Ritherdon has expanded the types of apprenticeships it offers, including modern day apprenticeships schemes in Digital Marketing.

“Our current digital marketer, Peter, was the first to complete this new type of apprenticeship with us in 2022.

“We have also opened up to other training schemes, including our newest technical operator, Sahil, who has come to us through a training scheme operated by Made Smarter UK and our T-level student, Daniel, who will be beginning his final 2-week placement with us this March.

Ben added: “As our business continues to grow, with new innovations in product design and manufacturing processes, and exporting internationally, it is more important than ever to ensure the next generation of skilled people are equipped with the knowledge and training businesses like ours require.”