The Anochrome Group, a metal finishing business operating across Wolverhampton and Walsall, has brought on five apprentices as it establishes its first structured apprenticeship program in years. The intake includes four mechatronics apprentices and one business administration apprentice, all working toward Level 3 qualifications alongside training provider In-Comm Training.
How the Program Is Structured
Each apprentice will divide their week between hands-on work at Anochrome and classroom instruction with In-Comm Training, spending roughly two-and-a-half days in each setting. The mechatronics apprentices will study electrical and maintenance disciplines, skills the company says are increasingly necessary to operate and maintain advanced machinery, including robotic equipment. The qualifications are expected to take three years to complete, a timeline consistent with many Level 3 apprenticeship frameworks in the United Kingdom that combine workplace experience with formal study.
Who Is Taking Part
The five apprentices range in age from 18 to 22 and will be distributed across Anochrome's four UK operating businesses: Wolverhampton Electro Plating, Inlex Locking, Anochrome Ltd, and Anotec. According to Richard Chater, the Group's HSE and Technical Support Manager, the company has occasionally hired individual apprentices in the past but has not run a full, structured cohort in many years.
Why the Company Says It Matters
Chater, who is also leading the new apprenticeship initiative, said the push was driven by CEO Mark Jones with the stated aim of investing in younger workers from the company's West Midlands base. Chater described the goal as bringing new talent and energy into the business while building the technical skills needed to maintain specialized equipment. For job seekers and families considering apprenticeship routes, programs like this illustrate a common UK model: paid, on-the-job training paired with accredited classroom study, offering an alternative pathway into skilled technical and administrative roles without requiring a traditional university degree.
Context for Readers Evaluating Apprenticeships
Apprenticeship schemes vary significantly by employer and training provider, so prospective applicants should confirm specifics such as qualification level, pay, duration and the balance between work and study before committing. This particular program is limited to Anochrome's own businesses and reflects one company's approach rather than a broader regional or national initiative.