Air Control Industries launches graduate engineering programme to address sector skills gap

The employee-owned manufacturer, with a UK base in Devon, specialises in industrial air movement and drying technologies. It is introducing a structured two-year scheme aimed at developing early-career engineers through rotational placements across core business functions. The initiative reflects a broader industry push to strengthen domestic engineering talent pipelines amid ongoing recruitment challenges.

Founded in 1969 and transitioning to employee ownership in 2023, Air Control Industries is now led by MD Lucy Cockerill. The company’s current strategy places emphasis on sustainable growth, technical innovation and workforce development.

The graduate programme will take on one to two candidates annually, prioritising depth of training over volume intake. Participants will gain hands-on experience in operations, manufacturing, quality assurance, product design and commercial engineering, working on live projects from the outset.

Air Control Industries’ product range includes industrial fans, blowers and air knife systems designed to improve energy efficiency, process reliability and workplace safety. These are deployed across multiple sectors, including food and beverage, manufacturing and industrial processing, under its core brand and specialist divisions such as JetBlack Safety personnel safety solutions and Hyroic drying technology.

"The programme is intended not only to support recruitment but also to enhance knowledge retention and cross-functional collaboration within the business. Graduates will be involved in process improvement initiatives, documentation of engineering best practice, and supporting continuous improvement activities across the production environment," said Mat Ayres, innovation and engineering manager. "Developing engineering talent is critical to the long-term resilience of UK manufacturing. This programme is designed to accelerate practical learning, embed technical expertise and bring new perspectives into the business. As an employee-owned company, we are particularly focused on creating meaningful career pathways and retaining skills within the organisation."

Successful candidates are due to begin in September at the company’s Axminster facility.

The launch signals a continued shift among UK manufacturers towards structured early-career development as a means of addressing skills shortages, improving productivity, and supporting future innovation.

www.aircontrolindustries.com