Sensor Technology has a long-standing apprenticeship scheme and is an active member of many support groups such as the Engineering Industries Association and the Tradeshow Access Programme.

“As a small-to-medium enterprise (SME) company we rely on many co-operative programmes to enable us to exhibit internationally, fund development and other such activities that would otherwise be out of our reach,” says Tony Ingham, who has led Sensor Technology’s sales and marketing department for 30 years.

“As this year progresses and the Brexit changes begin to take real effect, we have got to be very careful that, as a nation, we can maintain our business levels with the EU.”

Sensor Technology is a prolific exporter, to the EU and elsewhere. It has distributors in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, North and South America. This wide spread of customers means it is not overly dependent upon the EU, although any disruption to trade would of course be unwelcome.

The company says its main products – wireless torque and load sensors – are built to a unique design. In many cases the sensors' wireless connection means they are exempt from some certifications. They are also easy to install and set up, which makes them suitablee for test and measurement applications where each new test piece or test run requires reinstallation.

“I went to meet Victoria at the Houses of Parliament in January,” says Ingham. “She agreed to come to see us for a longer more detailed meeting and we suggested National Apprenticeship Week as education, training and development are a strategic necessity for us because we must train engineers in our own specialities.”