Shaping tomorrow’s talent: Encirc mentors speak on the power of apprenticeships

At Encirc, people are at the heart of everything we do and nowhere is that clearer than in our commitment to developing the next generation of industry talent.

Our apprenticeship programme has become a vital pathway for young people stepping into engineering and manufacturing, offering hands‑on experience, continuous learning, and the chance to start a meaningful career with real purpose.

In this Q&A, Rob Murray, Ryan Mayo, and Packie Doonan share their insights into why apprenticeships matter, what mentoring brings to both new starters and seasoned professionals, and how investing in people today helps safeguard the long‑term success of our business and our industry.

Explore their perspectives below and discover how Encirc is helping shape the workforce of tomorrow.

1)      Rob Murray – Tell us about the apprenticeship programme at Encirc and why it is so important?

Our apprenticeship program is a structured three-year scheme with either an electrical or mechanical bias. It gives young people the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to build strong careers in our industry, with the option to start a HNC in the final year.

It’s incredibly important to Encirc because it helps us grow our own talent, keep specialist skills in-house, and ensure we have the right people to support the future of our business and our industry.

2)      Rob Murray – What motivated you to become a mentor, and why do you believe supporting apprentices is vital?

I became a mentor because I wanted to give something back and help the next generation get the support I benefited from early in my own career. Supporting apprentices is essential – it builds confidence, encourages good habits, and helps them settle into a fast-moving environment with the guidance they need to succeed.

3)     Rob Murray – From your perspective, how does mentoring contribute to the personal and professional development of young people entering the industry?

Mentoring gives young people a safe space to learn, ask questions, and grow at their own pace. Professionally, it helps them develop practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and a better understanding of how the industry works. Personally, it builds confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging, which are just as important as technical knowledge.

4)    Ryan Mayo – What key skills or qualities do you hope to help apprentices build during their time within the programme?

The main skill I look for in all the apprentices is the ability to learn. From a school background to getting up to speed with an industrial facility can be very difficult to get your head around. No single apprentice will learn everything they need to perform in a full-time position, so I look at how they push themselves to learn and how they cope under pressure.

If they have a well laid out approach and plan, they will achieve what they want from the job.

5)    Ryan Mayo- Can you share an example of how mentoring has had a positive impact on an apprentice’s confidence, capability, or career direction?

The main positive impact I would say I have on someone is that making mistakes is just an opportunity to learn. They should embrace what they did wrong and own the corrective actions from it. No one is perfect, and everyone gains their experience by seeing what was done wrong in the past, so they know what to do in the future.

6)   Ryan Mayo –Why do you think apprenticeship programmes are valuable to the future growth and talent pipeline of the business?

We have seen over the years that especially in engineering that the work force is ageing and not enough people with the correct skills are filling the gaps.

Having an apprentice program in place will help support the industry by making sure there are the correctly skilled people to start filling the gaps. Also, training within business allows you to train them to the certain process and policies which we are all held to account for.

7)     Packie Doonan – How does mentoring apprentices benefit experienced employees and the wider team?

It benefits all the team as they must follow all the health and safety procedures while completing daily tasks. Experienced employees talk and explain to the apprentice through the work so they understand what is happening, and what is needed to get the tasks completed.

8)     Packie Doonan – In your view, what sets apprenticeships apart from traditional career pathways in preparing young people for long-term success?

For young boys or girls that are interested in engineering, apprenticeships are the way forward because they get top-class hands-on experience. They are on site in a manufacturing environment while also going to college and achieving a qualification. On top of that they get a salary as they learn.

9)     Packie Doonan – What advice would you give to new mentors or those considering taking on a mentoring role within the organisation?

In the general maintenance department, the last three fitters we have taken on for full time employment have been through the apprentice scheme with Encirc.

So, they have been trained by working with experienced people and they are now confident to complete tasks with the ability to train our most recent apprentices.  As regards advice for new mentors, I would recommend the following:

• Encourage apprentices to have the confidence to solve problems and make decisions when possible.
• Provide honest, supportive feedback and model the behaviour you want to inspire.
• Enjoy the experience of interacting with apprentices and helping them to develop.