COMPANY
UK VALVE MANUFACTURER SINCE 1977
A UK manufacturer, supplying high-quality valves to the oil & gas industry since 1977.
Company Overview
We design, manufacture and deliver high-quality valves for critical applications. In doing so, we have gained approvals from major, global oil and gas providers and built an enviable reputation with our customers.
When you buy from Alco Valves you can be very confident in the quality and integrity of the product you are buying. We achieve this through tight control and continuous improvement in our manufacturing and quality control processes.
To meet the ever-changing needs of the oil and gas market, it’s essential that we keep a close eye on the future and are able to track and satisfy changing customer needs. That is why we have such a strong focus on recruiting and developing high-calibre staff, and developing our R&D and bespoke manufacturing capabilities.
GLOBAL OFFICES
As well as our Head Office in the UK, we have a presence in seven other territories throughout the world. We also have a network of global partners in other parts of the world, who can advise you on the most cost-effective way for you to buy our valves locally.
Graduate Opportunities & Apprenticeships
Student Placements & Graduate opportunities
Student placements are another great opportunity for us to bring new skills and ideas into the business, from students who already have an in-depth knowledge of engineering theory. You will be exposed very quickly to projects that will build on your academic knowledge, leaving you with very useful experience to build on when you complete your studies.
Recent students have taken up very hands-on roles, with several of them returning to the business permanently after their studies, to take up senior management roles.
Contact us if you would like to discuss how your experience and qualifications could help us grow our business further.
Apprenticeships
Our engineering apprenticeships give you a structured programme of career development. This will include academic studies – typically NVQ and BTEC qualifications, with many apprentices going on to complete a HNC or HND qualification.
More importantly though, you will gain early exposure to important processes within the business such as quality management, sales and manufacturing. Many previous apprentices have progressed quickly into management roles as the business has grown.
“I joined Alco in 2013 on an apprenticeship which I’ve now completed. I’m now being supported to study my HNC in Mechanical Engineering, which I’m really looking forward to starting to develop my career even further.
I worked in several different departments as part of my apprenticeship and I now work on the larger valves such as subsea and large trunnion mounts. I find the work really interesting and I just want to keep working hard and progress further up the chain with Alco, and my HNC will help me do this. A lot of my friends from college also went through engineering apprenticeships and it feels like Alco compares very well with some of the other apprentice schemes my friends have been through.”
Jordan Clavin
ASSEMBLER & FITTER
“I joined Alco in 2013 partway through my apprenticeship and the company supported me in advancing on to my HNC, which I have now achieved. I really enjoy working at Alco because I like to be involved in key processes and I have had a lot of opportunities to do this.
I have had a really hands-on role with work such as fire testing and type approval testing, and I even flew to Oman to help a vendor set up their own testing procedures. I want to keep doing more of this kind of work and maybe get more involved with finished products that we develop within the R&D team. I feel like Alco really listen to their staff and give us all plenty of opportunities to progress.”
Mark Smith
R&D ENGINEER
“I really enjoy working so closely with customers - many of them in other parts of the world - and building relationships with them. I recently secured a very large contract for over 20 valves going to Egypt which was really rewarding and I got some great help from my colleagues to secure the deal.
I really enjoy working at Alco and having worked at the old premises and moved to the new one. I also feel that I personally am getting great support from the business to build my career and see a good future for myself here. ”
Sam Walland
APPRENTICE SALES SUPPORT ENGINEER
“My first experience of Alco was two weeks’ work experience while I was at 6th form college. That then turned into a part-time job, and when I completed college I started an apprenticeship and will start my HNC studies shortly.
What I enjoy most about working at Alco is the real responsibility you get. For example I am very involved in testing at all stages of the manufacturing process, and I have worked alongside third party inspectors to demonstrate my methods as part of our quality management accreditations. It just goes to show that if you work hard and use the knowledge you’ve picked up from your studies, you will get opportunities to progress quickly.”
Josh Milthorpe
QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR
“I joined Alco in 2015 as an apprentice and have worked across the full range of valve products as an assembler. I am studying for an NVQ in Engineering Maintenance and I am impressed with how well my studies fit with the work I am doing.
I see good long-term potential at Alco and the things I enjoy most are the variety of the work, the fact that it’s challenging and teaches you new things regularly and the way the whole team work together and support one another.”
Sam Lane
APPRENTICE ASSEMBLER
