Air Control Industries Launches New Graduate Engineering Scheme
Our first Engineering Graduate Programme is part of our long-term commitment to developing engineering talent, supporting UK manufacturing and investing in the next generation of engineers.
Investing in the Next Generation of Engineers
We have launched our first Engineering Graduate Programme as part of a long-term strategy to help address the UK’s engineering skills shortage and build in-house capability across our manufacturing operations.
As an employee-owned manufacturer based in Devon, we specialise in industrial air movement and drying technologies. Our structured two-year programme is designed to develop early-career engineers through rotational placements across our core business functions. The initiative reflects a broader industry push to strengthen domestic engineering talent pipelines amid ongoing recruitment challenges.
Founded in 1969 and employee-owned since 2023, we are now led by Managing Director Lucy Cockerill. Our strategy focuses on sustainable growth, technical innovation and developing the next generation of engineering talent.
The graduate programme will take on one to two candidates annually, prioritising depth of training over volume intake. Successful applicants will gain hands-on experience in operations, manufacturing, quality assurance, product design and commercial engineering, working on live projects from the outset.
Fan Assembly
Air Knife Assembly
What the Graduate Programme Offers
The graduate programme will take on one to two candidates annually, prioritising depth of training over volume intake. Working on live projects from the outset, participants will gain hands-on experience across five core business functions:
Operations
Manufacturing
Quality Assurance
Product Design
Commercial Engineering
Engineering Experience Across Diverse Industries
Graduates will gain hands-on experience supporting engineering solutions used across a wide range of manufacturing industries.
Through industrial fans, blowers, air knife systems and specialist technologies, graduates will gain exposure to engineering solutions used across food and beverage, manufacturing and industrial processing. They will also experience specialist divisions including JetBlack Safety personnel safety solutions and Hyroic drying technology.
Food Manufacturing
Beverage Production
Manufacturing
Industrial Processing
” 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.
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. “
Looking Ahead
The launch signals a continued shift among UK manufacturers towards structured early-career development to address skills shortages, improve productivity and support future innovation.
As part of our long-term commitment to developing engineering talent, our Graduate Scheme will continue to evolve. Visit our Graduate Scheme page to learn more about the programme and register your interest for future opportunities.
Visit Our Graduate Scheme
Applications for our current graduate intake are now closed. Visit our Graduate Scheme page to learn more about the programme and register your interest for future opportunities.
