A WORTHING business is bucking the national trend by attracting a significant number of women into the engineering industry.

Nordell is a plastic injection moulding and engineering company situated at Teville Industrials, Dominion Way.

Recent statistics reveal that women make up less than one in eight of the engineering workforce.

But management at Nordell believes it is crucial more young women are inspired to join engineering and manufacturing.

The current ratio of women to men at Nordell is at an all-time high of 28 per cent female workers.

Managing director Paul Mason said: “In order to close the gender gap of those working in our industry, this means encouraging them from school and college ages.

“At Nordell, we have females from across Europe working within the business at various levels.

“These include environmental engineers and some staff continuing to study economic degrees.

“This ensures that those who wish to better their careers are given the opportunity to do so within Nordell.

“In recent years, we have made a huge push to new managers and team leaders, a move which has also raised the number of women in leadership roles responsible for managing and supervising the engineering and manufacturing operations of plastic parts.”

Mr Mason said the business has seen ‘a significant improvement in productivity and aptitude of the staff since the increase to a more gender balanced workforce.’

He said: “We have joined forces with Sigta, which offers apprenticeships.

“We are excited about welcoming both male and female candidates for future apprenticeship opportunities.

“Nordell’s modern approach and forward thinking means the diversity of applicants for all positions within our business is solely based on the skill level.

“What Nordell may be considered to be doing differently is actually nothing different at all.

“Having an open mind in an industry which has been predominantly a male environment just means that we are able to ensure the right person is in the right seat within our business.

“This is supported only by their desire for the position, their understanding of what is required of them, and their capacity to succeed given the right support and environment.”

Founded in 1968, Nordell is celebrating its 50th year.

The company employs 68 people and serves more than 130 customers throughout the UK, Europe, Americas and Asia.

Nordell currently has vacancies for operators and an apprentice quality administrator.

A spokesman said: “We are always looking for motivated people to join our manufacturing team as operators.

“This apprenticeship in the plastics industry will involve producing work instructions and communicating with customers.”

Earlier this year, the company made a series of new appointments to oversee its range of clients.

Mr Mason said: “This is obviously a very significant period. It’s our 50th year and we are driving a phase of unprecedented development for our business.

“We see each of these appointments as playing a significant role in the future of the company.

“This will benefit our current team and ensure our clients continue to receive our continuously developing “Nordell Edge” that our clients need to keep them at the forefront of their sectors.”

Teresa Blackman joined after more than 30 years of manufacturing experience. Zoltan Meszaros arrived with 18 years experience in the plastics industry.

Jason Munday has more than nine years experience of working within a plastics manufacturing environment.