Starting this week, Stannah, a leading British lift company, is hosting lift and escalator engineering apprentice assessment days at multiple locations across the UK in a drive to support industry growth and invest in the next generation of skilled engineers.
The nationwide assessment days are a company-first at this scale. Over 100 candidates, selected from a pool of more than 500 applicants, will take part. Events are being held at Stannah branches and customer locations, with more to follow into June.
As a responsible employer and proud industry leader, Stannah is committed to tackling the post-Covid skills shortage and securing a strong future for the lift and escalator sector. The company will take on over 20 new apprentices in September – an increase on last year – demonstrating a firm commitment to creating career opportunities and nurturing talent within local communities.
The lift industry is a vital part of the UK’s infrastructure. According to the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA), there are more than 300,000 lifts and escalators in the UK, moving over four million people every day. Skilled lift and escalator engineers ensure these systems run safely and reliably using advanced technology. With the industry growing at a rate of 4.6% and valued at over £3.6 billion by 2026*, demand for capable engineers has never been higher.
Apprentices at Stannah will enter a career that is hands-on, creative and technically diverse – blending mechanical, electrical and problem-solving skills. Stannah has long been a champion of apprenticeships, recognising them as a way to offer young people a route into rewarding long-term careers while keeping the industry thriving. The company is also proud to see many long-serving engineers retire after more than 25 years of service in the business – a testament to the passion and longevity of the profession and Stannah as an employer.
Dan White, Service Director at Stannah, said, “Apprenticeships are central to our success. They bring in fresh perspectives, energy and talent, and help us ensure we’re building the right skillsets for the future. These assessment days are an important part of finding and supporting the engineers of tomorrow – people who will go on to make a real difference.”
Loren Moody, Talent Acquisition Lead and organiser of the assessment days, added, “We’ve had an overwhelming response from applicants across the UK. It’s exciting to be hosting these events not only at our branches but also in partnership with customers – showing real-world locations where apprentices will one day be working. We want everyone who attends to come away inspired by the opportunities in this incredible industry.”
This initiative aligns with Stannah’s founding values, first set out by Joseph Stannah over 150 years ago. In a letter to The Engineer in 1889, Joseph Stannah wrote, “It is undoubtedly the duty of every engineer to instruct his share of the rising generation, but it is also his duty to do it in such a way as shall conduce most to the general prosperity of the future.”
With this spirit still guiding the business today, Stannah continues to champion engineering as a career of choice – helping young people discover a fulfilling, vital role in a sector that keeps the world moving.
