Gas firm grows with apprenticeship support

A Teesside-based gas company is thriving after expanding its workforce with apprenticeships, thanks to key business support. 

MTP Gas, founded by RAF veteran Mark Taylor, has grown from humble beginnings working out of a garden shed to a successful business in Acklam, Middlesbrough.

With support from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, the company now employs two apprentices, Luke Boddy and Will Simpson. 

Both have developed their skills with MTP Gas, with Will pursuing a hands-on role after leaving university. 

Will, who is now completing his exams at Redcar and Cleveland College, said: 

“At Uni, I was bored but I think I’m a hands-on learner.

“I didn’t learn anything – and I wouldn’t have passed college if I’d stayed there.

“I reached out to Mark, and I’ve learned more here since starting last June than I did in years there.”

Thanks to business support from RTC North and £2000 funding from the Tees Valley Apprenticeship Support Grant, as well as the UKSPF Expertise and Supply Chain programmes, MTP has boosted its profile and gained new business and opportunities through networking and social media.

Mark, who now has ambitions to take on a new apprentice every year, said: “I had apprentices, but it never seemed to work when we did it.

“I approached the mayor to see if there was help available and he put me onto the team to help through the process.

“We whittled it down to about six and did the interviews from there. 

“The funding from the Tees Valley was brilliant.”

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “Mark’s career and approach shows exactly what we’re all about in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – backing our brilliant small businesses and making sure they have the support they need, shaped by what they tell us works.

“Apprenticeships are a gamechanger – not just for the young people starting out, but for businesses like MTP Gas that are growing, expanding, and keeping crucial skills in our region.

“We’re proud to support companies like Mark’s – and we’ll keep backing them every step of the way.”

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