Awarded as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (which will taking place 10^th – 16^th of February), the accolade celebrates and recognises the dedication, determination and achievements of apprentices across the region. Lewis was nominated by his line managers at Elta, Dan Owen, Engineering Manager, and Paul Brophy, Lead Engineer.

Having started his apprenticeship in November 2022 at Lima College in Dudley before transferring to Sandwell Academy, Lewis now works four days a week at Elta with a day spent in the classroom. Lewis’s responsibilities have grown as his three-year course has progressed, handling servicing and maintenance of products for the air movement and air quality specialists, taking part in inspections and testing, and visiting customer sites.

Lewis’s remarkable development and embracing of new opportunities outside his usual responsibilities has impressed his colleagues, leading to his appointment as a quality representative for the company’s West Midland site. This enthusiasm earned him the nomination for the Apprentice Star Award, and with his apprenticeship set to end this Summer, he will return to Elta in a full-time role.

“I didn’t even know I’d been shortlisted for the award because I was on site at the time, so finding out was a really nice surprise,” says Lewis. “My granddad was an engineer his whole life and that inspired me to become an engineer – this is what I’ve wanted to do, so it’s fantastic to be recognised with this nomination.

“Learning with Elta has been a great experience, and everyone’s been very welcoming. Daniel and Paul have been my mentors and they’ve given me a lot of support – if there’s anything I don’t know, I’ll phone them, and they’ll be around in a matter of minutes to show me what to do. I’ve really valued their help, and the fact Daniel started as a student here like me has shown me a clear development pathway and provided great insight into what’s required in the role. It’s an honour that they put me forward for this prestigious award.”

Lewis’s nomination is the latest in a string of successes for Elta’s training programme, following Sam Brophy and Anthony McGuiness completing their apprenticeships as Lean Manufacturing Operatives (Production/Assembly) last summer. With both Sam and Anthony now employed full-time at the company’s Kingswinford factory, these latest achievements further demonstrate our commitment to investing in its employees and helping them reach their full potential, as Daniel Owen, Engineering Manager, explains.

“We take pride in ensuring our apprentices have access to relevant training that allows them to excel in what they do,” says Dan. “Whether that’s gaining new certifications or flourishing in an expanding role, it’s excellent to see colleagues like Sam, Anthony and Lewis thrive and succeed.

“In Lewis’s case, it’s been fantastic to see him take on additional responsibilities as his apprenticeship has progressed. As his colleagues have said, nothing is too much trouble for him, so it’s no wonder he’s been nominated for the Apprentice Star Award. – we’re all rooting for him to win!”

For more information on the Elta placement program, click here.

About Acoustica

Since 1992, Acoustica has been providing leading noise control solutions to the HVAC market, along with quality service to customers across the UK. Our Colchester-based manufacturer of silencers, louvres, and enclosures has been a key part of many Elta projects, including those at New Children’s Hospital in Dublin and the Shell Cormorant Alpha Platform. Acoustica is also renowned for its acoustic measurement, modelling, and monitoring expertise.

Acoustica was acquired by Elta in 2016, with the view to support their future expansion and development, led by General Manager, Andy Milkins, and overseen by Damian Buxton, CEO of Elta.

By adding Acoustica into the Elta brand, we are acknowledging that as a business, we have transcended our previous capabilities, and it shows our full capability as a manufacturer of not only fans, but air handling units, controls and acoustic equipment too.

Pictured: Andy Milkins, General Manager (Left) & Damian Buxton, CEO of Elta UK (Right).

Specialising in both ventilation and acoustics, we can provide you with a comprehensive one-stop solution. From powerful ventilation systems to specialised noise control equipment, we simplify your projects with a unified approach, ensuring efficiency and excellence at every step. Our expertise in acoustics enables us to offer unparalleled guidance and support to solve complex noise issues.

Andy Milkins, General Manager at Acoustica, says: “We’ve been Elta’s acoustics division for eight years now, so this feels like the natural next step in our evolution. Acoustica’s values have always aligned with Elta’s and it’s great to be fully recognised as an integral part of providing the highest standard of air quality. Acoustica has grown a lot in the past eight years and we’re all very much looking forward to what the future holds for the new and improved Elta.”

Mark Rickard, CEO at Elta Group, said: “Elta is known as a provider of industry-leading ventilation. Noise management is a vital part of any high-quality ventilation system and, with Acoustica’s incredible track record of manufacturing the very best in noise control components, we’re excited to have them now under the growing Elta brand. Our business is increasingly well-equipped with a comprehensive portfolio of solutions and technical expertise to lead the charge on improving air quality throughout the built environment and the newly integrated Acoustica division is a major part of our ongoing success.”

www.eltauk.com/products/noise-control/

The awards bring the number of employees at Elta who have worked for the company for over 20 years to 10. 44 employees now record more than 10 years’ service and a further 38 more than 5 years. Reaching their 20 year milestones are Paul Greenwood, Gary Muckleston, Matthew Targett and Tony Price; 15 years – Harry Bradshaw, David Brooks, Jason Hoskins and Steven West; and 10 years – Kelly Prestage, Monique Simmons and Toby Worrall. Certificates were presented to mark the achievements at Elta’s Head Office in Fareham, Hampshire and at the Building Services premises in Kingswinford, West Midlands where Toby and Kelly are based.

Damian Buxton, recently promoted to the position of Managing Director of the Fareham operation, is himself a good example of a company philosophy that believes in developing its personnel and promoting from within –”It is an approach which benefits both the company and the individuals concerned and the fact that we have so many long service employees is testament to its success, providing the depth of knowledge, experience and continuity that provides real benefits to customers.”

Joshua Humphrey and Michael Pateman were two of 100 new members to take part in an event to celebrate joining the Institution and were keen to highlight the importance to their career development of their time spent at Elta. Joshua and Michael undertook their industrial placements with Elta in 2011 and 2012 as part of the company’s ongoing student placement programme, an important element in Elta’s commitment to training and investing in the future of the HVAC industry. Now qualified as Engineering Technicians MIMechE, they both cited a childhood fascination with how things work as the impetus to consider a career in engineering and selected courses at the University of Portsmouth.

Elta’s Head Office is in Fareham, Hampshire and has strong links with the nearby university, regularly offering work placement opportunities to undergraduates in the sandwich years of their mechanical engineering degree courses. Joshua and Michael both worked in Elta’s Research & Development Department.

He will also continue reporting to the Elta Group board on activities at the company’s Building Services Division in Kingswinford, West Midlands. Damian’s promotion is in keeping with the Group’s values based on the belief in its personnel to grow. Indeed, the Group aims to promote from within wherever possible, except when an outside infusion is needed or obviously preferable.

Damian is a graduate of Middlesex University where he gained a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance in 1990, joining Elta seven years later in 1997 in the role of Financial Controller. Progressing through the company, he qualified as an Associate Member of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA) in 2003. In 2008, in recognition of his unstinting commitment to the company, he was promoted to Finance Director. Former Managing Director, Mr. David Osgerby, left the company in order to pursue other business interests. Following his departure, Damian was asked by the Elta Group board of directors, to coordinate activities temporarily across both the Fareham and Kingswinford facilities.

During this three month period, the board has carefully evaluated a number of key considerations that will have an influence on how the structure of the company is shaped in the future. Damian is based at the company’s head office in Fareham, but will continue to liaise and work closely with management teams from both sites. He will involve himself in all aspects affecting the business strategy and performance of the two sites. Following his appointment as MD, Damian will continue to build upon his responsibilities, providing the Elta Group with focus and commitment in the interests of its longer term objectives. He will actively contribute in developing stronger communication between the Fareham fand Kingswinford sites, having responsibility for the coordination of management meetings across both divisions. He will be fully engaged in strategic and operational developments, reporting regularly to the board on the ongoing business strategy and performance of Elta.

In view of the additional responsibilities that Damian will be assuming and the change to his role within the company, he will be assisted by colleague, Joanne Morgan who, in turn, is being promoted to Financial Controller. She will continue reporting to Damian on all financial matters across both sites.

Neil Jolliffe has been promoted to Sales Manager, having worked with Elta for 27 years. Mike Ratcliff, having been with Elta for 21 years, remains with the team four days a week. Joining the team are Philip Smaje and Catherine Murphy as Internal Sales Engineers. Both have completed Elta’s four week induction, which involves time in each of the departments at the Applied Technology division’s Fareham site in Hampshire, to ensure they receive a good grounding in the whole operation.

Philip joins Elta from ICS Cool energy where he worked as a marketing and telesales executive with responsibilities which included arranging site visits for sales engineers. Catherine’s most recent role was as a technical support/sales engineer within the ventilation industry and she has also worked as an electronic/mechanical engineer and team leader with the British Army.

The new appointments follow the addition of Richard Bateman as an apprentice in 2011, who is currently taking an NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations and who will be joining the sales team at the end of his two year course.

Commenting on the appointments, Neil Jolliffe said – “Phil and Cathy are very welcome additions to our team. Tony Phillips has retired from his full-time sales position with Elta but will continue to work for us one day a week in a training capacity, training our new employees, as well as some of our existing members of staff, to ensure that we are able to pass on the extensive knowledge and experience Tony has built up over his 18 years with Elta.

Editor’s Note: Elta Applied Technology are renowned for their design and engineering capacity in bespoke ventilation equipment servicing a diverse range of market sectors including agriculture, marine, offshore and defence. Our fans operate in many and varied prestigious OEM applications worldwide.

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

Chris, a well known, high-profile figure within the industry, first met Roger Crook, the founding director of Elta, when they were working together at The Airscrew Co. Ltd. Originally a British manufacturing company based in Surrey manufacturing propellers, the company diversified after World War II and was bought by the Howden Group in 1971. Elta was established in 1974, producing circulating fans for high temperature applications and Chris, recognised throughout the industry as an expert on fans, joined his former colleagues as Technical Manager in 1985. His initial role was to help take the developing company towards the certification and presentation of the performance of the first Elta Axial Impeller range, along with the associated 150mm and 250mm hubs. Chris was appointed Technical Director of Elta in 1996, and will be available to his former colleagues if required.

Chris recently celebrated his 70th birthday and finally decided to call time on his working career. He had originally retired five years earlier at 65 but was persuaded to carry on working three days a week until this latest landmark birthday. Being a keen golfer, often participating in competitions for his local club, no doubt Chris will be spending a large part of his retirement on the golf course with his wife Rita, who is an equally enthusiastic participant. He was presented with a suitably fitting gift of a golfing weekend for two at the world renowned Belfry Hotel and Golf Course to mark his twenty-five year contribution to the success of the company.

Neil Jolliffe joined Elta at 17 in the Fabrication section when the company was still based in Byfleet. After time in the Impeller and Assembly sections, Neil moved into the Purchasing office and eventually secured an internal Sales role. The company recognised Neil’s ambition and loyalty, along with his communication and ‘people’ skills, and rewarded him with an external Sales role through which he has introduced many new customers to the company. When the company re-located to Fareham in 1991, Neil continued living in London where he resides with girlfriend, Natalie, and he still commutes to the South Coast.

Neil is known for his commitment and his ability to build strong relationships with clients and co-workers alike. He is always on the go and likes nothing better than travelling to the far-flung corners of the globe with a rucksack and a list of things to do and places to see. Neil received a plaque to commemorate his service to the company and unsurprisingly, the gift of vouchers for even more travel. Neil’s ‘wanderlust’ also takes him to some not quite so exotic locations as he follows his beloved Chelsea FC around the country (he is quick to point out that he has supported them since a teenager rather than taking them up when their current spell of trophy gathering began!).

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

Dave started his working life with the Royal Navy as a Physical Training Instructor based at St Vincent in Gosport. Leaving the Navy in 1964 he joined Hi Temp Ltd followed by Cyanamid Ltd whom he worked for over twenty years. On joining Elta some seven and half years ago Dave has been mainly involved in the assembly of the Jetvent fans and, as to be expected given his background knowledge…. Elta’s range of marine fans.

Production halted at Fareham for a celebratory send off earlier this month as Dave was presented with a hand-made Penny Farthing for his beloved garden, made by the assembly and sheet metal teams at Fareham as a surprise. In addition he was also given a garden bench with engraved plaque, Mantel clock and vouchers.

A keen snooker player Dave retires to enjoy time with family, wife of 45 years Daphne, his two children Diane and Darren and his four grandchildren.

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

Harry joined Elta in February of 1978, working for Ray Ball, the founder and Chairman of Elta, initially in the Sales Department in Peartree Lane, Dudley. With the formation of Elta’s Technical Services Department, Harry made the move across in 1989, working to provide technical support on the company’s ever expanding product range.

After a 12 year spell in Technical Sales, Harry was appointed as a Project Engineer, returning to the Dudley office to renew his association with Ray and also now David Ball.

February 2005 saw Harry move to part-time, still in his capacity as a Project Engineer, a position he held when he relocated, along with the rest of the Dudley office team, to the Pensnett Trading Estate in Kingswinford. Harry worked on the CAD system, looking at new and existing products, until his retirement in 2010.

He now spends more time with his wife Joyce and is enjoying the extra time he has to spend walking in places such as Kinver Edge and pottering in his garden. As Harry says, he does still miss the workplace and “…the great bunch of people that he worked with.” His children and grandchildren also keep him busy, helping to decorate his daughter’s house being one of his latest missions.

David Ball commented ” “Harry is a tough act to follow ” He has been a terrific servant to our family, a model employee for more than 30 years, and his knowledge, experience and advice, has touched and influenced so many of us past and present.

People like Harry Hammond don’t grow on trees, they’re irreplaceable, so if the next generation can make even half the contribution Harry has made to this company, then we are blessed for much further success, and whenever we need his advice or support, we will always ask for it.

Harry will be always remembered and never forgotten, because his values and experience are part of the fabric of what makes this company what it is.”

The Elta Group is a £85 million family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

Dennis joined Elta Group in 2008 on his return to the United Kingdom from the Far East, and in the short time that he worked for the Group, he made an immense impact, as a result of his drive, enthusiasm and technical expertise.

In the course of his thirty-five year career in the ventilation industry he amassed an extensive knowledge of car park and smoke ventilation, and was widely recognised as an expert in this field. There are many people whose business lives he touched during that time and they, as we, are simply privileged to have know him and shared in his tremendous knowledge.

On behalf of all of us, our thoughts go out naturally to his wife Chloe and his family at this extremely sad time.

A donation fund has been set up to a cancer support charity of the family’s choice to which the Group will contribute. For individuals whom may wish to contribute personally, details can be found here: www.justgiving.com

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.