Here at IPC Mouldings, we are committed to investing in young people with the aim of inspiring them to consider a future career in engineering.
Northern Ireland has a reputation as a strong engineering and manufacturing hub and at IPC Mouldings we are keen to showcase to our younger generation the opportunities available to them, particularly in the exciting aerospace and space sectors.
We service customers from around the globe and are proud to be part of various initiatives in Northern Ireland that offer apprentices the chance to learn on the job with our skilled workforce and earn while they learn, all from our base in Carrickfergus.
IPC Mouldings recently attended the ADS NI Apprentice Reception in February 2026, held in Stormont and sponsored by Collins Aerospace. This event gave us the opportunity to connect with industry peers and recognise the contribution of apprentices and early careers professionals across Northern Ireland.
We were represented by our Operations Manager John McPherson and Engineering Manager Rajeev Mathew alongside our apprentices Lewis Pratt and Jack Jones. This marked Lewis and Jack’s second year at the reception, highlighting their consistent development and the growing role they play within our team. We are very proud of the progress they have made and look forward to seeing what they go on to achieve.
Held during Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2026, the reception reinforced a simple point. If we want a strong manufacturing base and sustainable sector growth, we must keep investing in practical engineering skills and in the people building their careers within it.
This is very much at the fore of IPC Mouldings’ commitment to encouraging young people to pursue a career in the industry and we are continually investing in ways in which we can deliver our services more efficiently and keep up to date with our peers.
One way we are doing this is through the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme which is a subsidised three way partnership between a business, a high calibre graduate and an academic institution. This ongoing programme has enabled us to drive the digital transformation within IPC Mouldings, delivering significant progress in digitising our core operational workflows and strengthening our data infrastructure.
Our goal is to move from manual processes to automated, scalable systems that support faster decision making and more efficient resource utilisation. Collaboration has also been a key part of this journey. We’ve enjoyed working alongside other KTP associates and recently hosted and attended company visits with teams from Donite Plastics and Kiverco, sharing knowledge and strengthening cross industry innovation.
Another initiative we are involved with is the Earn While You Learn Work+ scheme. In partnership with Workplus and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s E-hub, we provide apprenticeships for level two and level three engineering students.
By partnering with Workplus, which was established in 2019 to help employers and apprentices connect, we provide successful applicants with comprehensive training within a manufacturing environment, and on successful completion of their apprenticeship, the possibility of a career within our company. As an award-winning provider of injection moulded parts, IPC Mouldings is committed to providing career opportunities to the next generation of engineers and investing in our people to offer on the job training and support.
