Working for Us
As a growing business, with specialist technical expertise, it’s essential that we invest in our workforce and build a succession plan for the future of the business.
We devote time and resource into bringing apprentices and placement students into the business every year. We give genuine career opportunities and real accountability to ambitious recruits with an aptitude for engineering.
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.
Whilst we don’t offer a structured graduate development programme, we always welcome speculative applications from graduates with relevant academic qualifications. 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
CURRENT VACANCIES
Current career opportunities can be found below. We always welcome speculative applications from high-calibre individuals who share our values of engineering excellence and quality management. You can also contact us for an informal discussion.
We are currently recruiting for valve assembler/tester to work as part of our busy team in a fast paced, dynamic environment to assist in the assembly and testing of new and existing valve products to meet both industry and customer specifications. Training will be provided.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assemble and test valve components following work instructions.
- Maintain a safe and clean working environment.
- Carry out daily work assessments to make sure you are being as safe and efficient as possible.
- Contribute to team effort and ensure production requirements are met.
- Ensure that Health & Safety and Environmental standards are complied with.
- This list is not exhaustive.
Skills Required:
- Experience of valve assembly, preferable but not essential as training will be given.
- Experience of valve testing, preferable but not essential as training will be given.
- Working in a team.
- Ability to be flexible within a role.
- Ability to read assembly drawings.
- Committed and hard working with a positive attitude.
- Good time management.
- Ability to react to differing workloads, some of which will be repetitive.
- Computer literate.
Desirable Skills:
- Problem solving skills.
- Full UK driving licence.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £12.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- 25 Days paid holiday – plus all Bank holidays
Schedule:
- Monday to Thursday 0700-1545hrs
- Friday 0700-1230
Department: Sales Department
Reporting To: Sales Manager
Direct Reports: None
Location: Brighouse, West Yorkshire, UK
Duration: Permanent
Description of Position
The Internal Sales Engineer role is a pivotal part of the Alco Valves Group development based on the long term strategic plan. The Internal sales engineer is primarily responsible to support the sales team as an engineering focal point and to also develop commercial awareness of a diverse range of manufactured valve products. This would involve working with a quality engineered product which has been established since 1977. The Internal Sales engineering would be responsible for developing sales of a technical nature in the oil and gas industry. This range includes instrument ball, needle, check and manifold valves, Double Block and Bleed Valves and monoflanges for top side and subsea applications.
Role Structure
The Internal Sales Engineer is a unique role within Alco Valves Group Sales Department. Reporting directly to the Internal Sales Manager.
- Key Responsibilities
Develop an excellent customer relationship through the provision of an outstanding quality service - Provide and sell product information, pricing, special offers and promotions and be able to negotiate them
- Advising customers and the internal sales team on a technical level with regards to the product range manufactured.
- Ability to review industry/valve data sheets and industry specifications
- Contacting clients by phone to negotiate terms of an agreement and conclude sales
- Gathering market and customer information
- Negotiating variations in price, delivery and specifications
- Reviewing own sales performance
- Gaining a clear understanding of customers’ businesses and requirements
Essential/Desirable Skills Required
Essential Skill Set
- Professionalism
- Must have good written and verbal communication skills
- Ability plan and prioritise tasks
- Ability to work effectively in a team and autonomously
- Goods skills – self organisation
- A passion for detail
- Flexible and creative
- Attention to detail
- Ability to review valve specifications and data sheets
Desirable Skill Set
• A qualification in Engineering
• Experience in the valve industry
General Information
Please Note – The role is ideal for a motivated candidate with a desire to enhance his/her skills in a rapidly developing business.
Overseas travel may be required as part of this role
Salary
Negotiable depending on experience
Working Hours
38.3/4 hours per week
Monday to Thursday : 8.00am – 4.45pm – lunch 12.30 to 13.00 (or as required).
Friday : 8.00am – 13.30pm – no lunch
Benefits
33 days annual leave made up of flexible, statutory and end of year shutdown holidays.
After 3 months service, access to a Health Care Cash Plan and Pension Scheme (with T&C applied)
Company Background
Founded in the United Kingdom September 1977, Alco Valves Ltd. was incorporated with the express purpose of manufacturing a comprehensive range of technically advanced, precision made, high integrity valve products and accessories. The latest engineering techniques and standards are applied in Alco’s ‘in-house’ machining facility and computerised drawing offices. With nearly four decades of success behind it, Alco Valves has expanded to form the Alco Valves Group, comprising of six companies, operating in over thirty countries world-wide with its own office locations and partnerships around the world, with average growth of 15% over the last three years.
Over the years developing export markets has been a key strategy for Alco Valves Group and it is very proud to have been awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade for 2014 in recognition of the Company’s outstanding performance and demonstration of sustainable growth through increased trading worldwide. Today, Alco Valves Group supplies its products to customers in over 150 countries worldwide.
Mission
To provide safe, defect free, instrumentation and pipeline products for industrial and scientific use. To meet and exceed our clients requirements, specifications and expectations. To provide customer service second to none, now and into the future.
Company General Policy Statement
Our Company policy is to safely and efficiently design, manufacture, assure quality, integrity test, package, sell and market the Alco brand name of world leading valve products. This offers our clients meaningful advantages whilst remaining forward facing, environmentally conscious and committed to the improvement of safety and the reduction of costs. The Alco Valves range is sold widely in domestic and international market places to recognised industrial and scientific users. We aim to deliver our products on time, at a reasonable cost with a high service level, with the intention of retaining profit for the company. This allows payment of suppliers, overheads and remuneration to our employees with the balance being used for improvement, inward capital investment, expansion, product research and development, certification and approvals by internationally recognised bodies. Millions of Alco products have been successfully installed and are in use by our clients today.
Description of Position
As an R & D Engineer you will form a vital part of the Alco family having involvement in the development of new products and the improvement of existing products, ensuring that we offer the customer the optimum product in terms of both reliability and quality.
Role Structure and Responsibilities
As part of the Engineering team, you will report directly to the Engineering Manager and be responsible for all aspects of R&D engineering output, including:
- New product development, including all aspects of prototype testing
- Existing product update
- Value engineering
- Bill of Materials (Syspro)
- Detailed drawings (Autodesk Inventor)
- General Arrangement drawings (Autodesk Inventor)
- Design reporting (To meet code requirements)
- Technical review
- Shopfloor support
- Test rig development
- Assembly procedures, including tooling requirements
- Test procedure development
Essential/Desirable Skills Required
- HNC/HND level education in Mechanical Engineering
- 2 years or more experience in the valve Industry
- Practical ability for problem-solving, hands-on capability
- Working knowledge of Autodesk Inventor (3D) and Auto Cad (2D), or other CAD system
- Knowledge of valve design codes
- Proficient in Microsoft office
- Strong team ethic
- Desire to achieve
General Information
This position will offer an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate to demonstrate their ability to improve existing product reliability and develop new products for the energy sector. You will be working in a small team alongside experienced engineers.
Salary
- Up to £33,000 per annum dependant on experience
- With a potential discretionary annual bonus payment based on company performance
Working Hours
38.5 hours per week
Monday to Thursday : 8.00am – 4.45pm – lunch 12.30 to 13.00 (or as required)
Friday : 8.00am – 1.30pm – no lunch
Benefits
- 33 days annual leave made up of flexible, statutory and end of year shutdown holidays.
- After probation completion access to a Health Care Cash Plan
- Statutory Pension Scheme in line with automatic enrolment
Company Background
Founded in the United Kingdom September 1977, Alco Valves Ltd. was incorporated with the express purpose of manufacturing a comprehensive range of technically advanced, precision made, high integrity valve products and accessories. With over forty years of success behind it, Alco Valves continues to develop export markets, which has been a key strategy for Alco Valves Group and it is very proud to have been previously awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade for 2014 in recognition of the Company’s outstanding performance and demonstration of sustainable growth through increased trading worldwide. Today, Alco Valves Group supplies its products to customers in over 150 countries worldwide.
Mission
To provide safe, reliable, instrumentation and pipeline products to the energy sector. To meet and exceed our clients requirements, specifications and expectations. To provide customer service second to none, now and into the future.
Company General Policy Statement
Our Company policy is to safely and efficiently design, manufacture, assure quality, integrity test, package, sell and market the Alco brand name of world leading valve products. This offers our clients meaningful advantages whilst remaining forward facing, environmentally conscious and committed to the improvement of safety and the reduction of costs. The Alco Valves range of products is sold widely in both the domestic and international energy markets to major EPC’s and end users. We aim to deliver our quality products on time into critical applications. Millions of Alco products have been successfully installed and are in use by our clients today.
Description of Position
As a Valve Design Engineer, you will form a vital part of the Alco family having involvement in the order process from quotation to final delivery. In role you will support the creation of all the deliverables required of the Engineering department, ensuring that we offer the customer the optimum product in terms of both reliability and quality.
Role Structure and Responsibilities
As part of the Engineering team, you will report directly to the Engineering Manager and be responsible for all aspects of engineering output, including:
- New product development
- Existing product update
- Value engineering
- Bill of Materials (Syspro)
- Detailed drawings (Autodesk Inventor)
- General Arrangement drawings (Autodesk Inventor)
- Design reporting (To meet code requirements)
- Technical review
- Sales support
- Customer support
- Technical data sheets
- Shopfloor support
- Test procedure development
Essential/Desirable Skills Required
- HND or Degree level education in Mechanical Engineering
- 5 years or more experience in the valve Industry
- Solid working knowledge of Autodesk Inventor (3D) and Auto Cad (2D), or other CAD system
- Excellent knowledge of valve design codes
- Proficient in Microsoft office
- Strong team ethic
- Desire to achieve
General Information
This position will offer an excellent opportunity for an experienced, motivated candidate to demonstrate their ability to improve existing product reliability and develop new products for the energy sector.
Salary
- Up to £38,000 per annum dependant on experience
- With a potential discretionary annual bonus payment based on company performance
Working Hours
38.5 hours per week
Monday to Thursday : 8.00am – 4.45pm – lunch 12.30 to 13.00 (or as required)
Friday : 8.00am – 1.30pm – no lunch
Benefits
- 33 days annual leave made up of flexible, statutory and end of year shutdown holidays.
- After probation completion access to a Health Care Cash Plan
- Statutory Pension Scheme in line with automatic enrolment
Company Background
Founded in the United Kingdom September 1977, Alco Valves Ltd. was incorporated with the express purpose of manufacturing a comprehensive range of technically advanced, precision made, high integrity valve products and accessories. With over forty years of success behind it, Alco Valves continues to develop export markets, which has been a key strategy for Alco Valves Group and it is very proud to have been previously awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade for 2014 in recognition of the Company’s outstanding performance and demonstration of sustainable growth through increased trading worldwide. Today, Alco Valves Group supplies its products to customers in over 150 countries worldwide.
Mission
To provide safe, reliable, instrumentation and pipeline products to the energy sector. To meet and exceed our clients requirements, specifications and expectations. To provide customer service second to none, now and into the future.
Company General Policy Statement
Our Company policy is to safely and efficiently design, manufacture, assure quality, integrity test, package, sell and market the Alco brand name of world leading valve products. This offers our clients meaningful advantages whilst remaining forward facing, environmentally conscious and committed to the improvement of safety and the reduction of costs. The Alco Valves range of products is sold widely in both the domestic and international energy markets to major EPC’s and end users. We aim to deliver our quality products on time into critical applications. Millions of Alco products have been successfully installed and are in use by our clients today.
Job descriptionShop Floor Supervisor
• Responsibility for production staffing and the management of production activities ensuring that the business output figures are achieved.
• Responsibility for the quality of product that is manufactured in line with the companies quality systems, processes and procedures
• Manage, develop and motivate direct reporting staff
• Assist with assembly and testing of products as and when required
• Undertake and manage maintenance/improvement of production equipment and tooling
• To ensure good communication is maintained with all members of staff
• To ensure that Health & Safety and Environmental rules and regulations are adhered to at all times in line with the companies policies
• Problem solving/troubling shooting to ensure that all team members can identify root causes and take fast effective action to resolve the problems in hand
• To have an active role in the companies continuous improvement plan to achieve future growth
• Maintain housekeeping standards to ensure a clean and safe workplace
• Be decisive whilst working within the companies organisational structure
• This list is not exhaustive
Essential/Desirable Skills Required
Skill set
• Conceptual Skills
• Valve assembly and Testing
• Process Improvement
• Verbal Communication
• Functional and Technical Skills
• Coordination
• Attention to Detail
• Judgement
• Flexible approach to working overtime when required.
• Time served engineer with the ability to use a conventional Lathe and Mill
Salary DOE
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Expected hours: 38.5 per week
Benefits:
• Bereavement leave
• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
Schedule:
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
Education:
• GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:
• Valve Industry: 2 years (required)
• Supervising: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: SFMay2024
NO AGENCIES THANK YOU
Find Out More About Us
We are pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at the CHEMUK exhibition that will be running on the 11t...
Following Alco Valves’ change of ownership in July 2020, we have been making great strides in growing the bu...
