Vital

Salford-based Vital Services Group received a VIP visitor on Friday 18th May 2012 as Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, Hazel Blears, visited the engineering specialist’s Ordsall Lane office.

The former Labour cabinet minister met with a group of rail apprentices and was taken on a tour of the firm’s training facilities before meeting with John Smith, CEO and founder of the 29-year-old company.

Mrs Blears last visited Vital in September2011 and was impressed by the investment the company had made in supporting and developing skills in the engineering sector. In 2012 Vital will recruit and train 270 apprentices across the country, including 48 in Salford.

“Vital has had a strong presence in Salford for many years and I am pleased to see that the company’s commitment to rail training and operations has grown, along with the size of its workforce,” said Mrs Blears.

“I enjoyed meeting with the young people and hearing about the work Vital has been doing, particularly with Salford City College.

“There are millions of young people out of work at the moment and an Apprenticeship with Vital provides an opportunity for quality training and the possibility of a job at the end. What I have found is that young people in Salford lack confidence and it was very refreshing to meet these young men today and see how enthusiastic they are about their profession.

“I think the company’s commitment to young people and the engineering industry as a whole is admirable and I am proud to have Vital within my constituency.”

22-year-old apprentice, Dean Amos, from Swinton, is one of Vital’s rail apprentices and will complete his course in the forthcoming weeks. Dean is keen to progress to a Level 3 Apprenticeship and said: “It’s mentally and physically challenging working as a rail apprentice but I really enjoy it. There are good career prospects, not just here but abroad, and we’ve all recommended it to our friends.”

John Smith concluded: “We are delighted that Hazel could join us today and would like to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit. It feels good to have some recognition for the investment we have made to our workforce and the wider community though our work with The Prince’s Trust and we’re looking forward to seeing how this develops over the forthcoming months.”

Press Contacts