Norco Composites awarded new contracts, recruits to bolster workforce

Large composite structures and glass fiber polymer (GRP) moldings manufacturer Norco Composites (Poole, Dorset, U.K.) is expanding and recruiting in all areas in response to significant contracts awarded in global defense, aerospace and subsea markets.

Based at Holton Heath Trading Estate, Norco has grown over the last 35 years from a GRP tank manufacturer to a service-oriented company, offering technical support to defense, aerospace and marine projects to build large composite structures. This high-demand expertise has led to significant investment in the company’s existing six facilities and 170 employees, with further growth ongoing as an influx of additional contracts continues into 2023.

Norco’s five-year plan includes further development of its Winfrith site and the specialist training program for existing and new employees to support future demand. The various types of work and emphasis on investment in the local community allows employees to increase their skill set and cross-train between departments, enabling Norco’s renowned technical capability, according to the company.

“I worked my way up to production manager throughout my 22 years with Norco,” Simon, Mitchell, production manager, reflects. “I started by gaining knowledge as a laminator of moldings and processes and continued to progress to a supervisor and now a management position. Some of my favorite work has used the team’s expertise on specialist applications in renewables energy sectors; testing a 9-meter tidal turbine blade was a personal highlight!”

Steve Ross, program manager, adds, “I joined Norco in 2014 on the shop floor as a laminator. With the wide variety of projects available, I was able to get involved with creating documents for some of the new projects being worked on. This enabled me to progress to a manufacturing engineer role and then onto production and program management. I have been lucky enough to work on some projects from marine, automotive and UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles]. One of the key projects involved building a large carbon fiber flying wing with [a] 42-meter wingspan and only weighing 120 kilograms.”

During the next few months, Norco aims to recruit 10-plus workers, bolstering its 170-strong workforce based across several sites in Dorset, U.K.

“We’re able to offer competitive rates of pay along with fantastic
benefits and the opportunity for training and career advancement,” Mark Northey, managing director, Norco, adds. “The defense, aerospace and subsea
sectors are in a strong position for the next ten years, which provides welcomed job security. Securing more skilled workers is now the key to maintaining growth and we believe that we should do this by investing in our local community, by training our staff, supporting local businesses and charities such as Julia’s House.”