Subcontract specialist and sheet metal fabricator, KMF, has seen substantial annual growth of over £1.5m following its backing of the nationwide move towards the increased availability of electric vehicle (EV) charge points. Based in the Midlands, the firm is utilising its 24/7 high-volume capacity to support blue-chip EV charge point manufacturers. Keith Nicholl, commercial director at KMF Group, says: “Orders continue to increase quarter-on-quarter with batch orders that were running at £10,000 now hitting the £100,000 point, demonstrating how rapidly the market is growing.”

For further information www.kmf.co.uk

IES, a global provider of machine moving services, logistics and project management in high-technology industries, has committed to expanding its apprenticeship opportunities by signing up to the Workforce for the Future programme. The company will receive support to develop more employee opportunities, and attract and retain new talent. Mark Methuen-Ley, people and culture manager at IES, says: “The decision to dedicate ourselves to more apprenticeship opportunities is a really exciting step that means we can nurture more talent and see more young people enter careers in STEM.”

For further information https://www.ies.co.uk/careers

Houghton International, an innovator in the field of electromechanical asset repair, maintenance and life extension, competed against companies from across the UK to secure two accolades at the Make UK National Awards. The company won SME Manufacturer of the Year and came runner-up in the Developing Future Talent category. Michael Mitten, CEO of Houghton International, says: “Taking home not one, but two national accolades is testament to our positive, innovation-led culture, excellent people, and the way we go about our business with integrity at the heart of all we do.”

For further information www.houghton-international.com

KMF Group’s annual awards celebrated the best of its young engineers, with eight awards handed out. This year, the event was held at KMF’s head office with apprentices and staff invited in person, while parents and guardians were able to watch on a live stream from home. This year’s winner of the big prize, Josh Clewlow (20), Level 3 apprentice and KMF ‘Apprentice of the Year’, says: “I didn’t think I’d win but it’s great to have been chosen. It’s an amazing apprenticeship that challenges you and helps you to learn and grow. I hope to stay on at KMF after my apprenticeship and want to progress to management eventually.”

For further information
https://is.gd/onozev

A Preston-based business is teeing-up to revolutionise the golf-club industry, working with the University of Sheffield’s AMRC North West to explore design options and prototyping for its innovative high-end golf clubs. The AMRC produced CAD options for FGX Sports and manufactured a 3D-printed prototype. Golf manufacturing is usually a long and expensive process that does not lend itself to the creation of prototypes, so this was a faster and more efficient way to test the design. The project was all about accelerating the design cycle and providing support to shorten time-to-market.

For further information
www.amrc.co.uk