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Aldermans News
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(0)1752 201200
Supporting Plymouth's Community & Business
Aldermans in the community
Over 50 Years of Excellence in Metal Fabrication
Championing manufacturing in Plymouth
Our Managing Director Karen Friendship co-chairs the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG), an informal network of some 60 manufacturing companies in Plymouth and the surrounding area. This has pioneered cross-company working groups and training initiatives where staff collaborate to promote manufacturing best practice.
Inspiring Future Engineers
Championing STEM
Karen is a local STEM ambassador, so is regularly involved in events to inspire the next generation (and particularly young women) to follow a career in engineering. We have hosted groups of students at the factory, and set engineering challenges for students (such as our Christmas decoration challenge). Karen has also been a guest speaker at numerous engineering events, plus a mentor and judge for youth engineering competitions. She also supports the Plymouth University Employer Mentoring programme, helping to nurture the talent in local undergraduates.
PMG 40th anniversary video
Founded in 1977, the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG) celebrates 40 years of manufacturing heritage, global connections, shared continuous improvement and innovation to support our members.
International Women’s Day
To mark International Women’s Day, we visited UTC Plymouth to speak with young girls about careers in STEM.
Joined by Catriona Smith, Gemma Lord CEng, and Niki Read, we shared our journeys and reinforced a powerful message: “If you can see it, you can be it.”
National Manufacturing Day
Aldermans proudly celebrated National Manufacturing Day with Make UK, welcoming MP Rebecca Smith and students from City College Plymouth, Eggbuckland, and UTC Plymouth. Thanks to Cromwell for the giveaways—great questions, great energy, and three years leading the way in Devon!
Mentoring
As we approach International Women in Engineering Day (INWED24), we spoke with our Managing Director, Karen Friendship, about her experience as a mentor in the University of Plymouth Careers Mentoring Programme.
Karen recently mentored two aspiring engineers, Alexandra Carr and Charlotte Piper, and shared:
“I wanted to give something back—to help young people overcome barriers and encourage them as they begin their careers. To all budding engineers: you’ll be amazed at the opportunities, especially here in Plymouth’s thriving manufacturing sector.”
Mentoring plays a vital role in shaping future talent, and we’re proud to support women and young people in engineering.
Fostering Talent Through Apprenticeships
Championing apprenticeships
We have taken apprentices throughout our history. Usually apprentices represent 5-10% of our workforce at any one time. We offer mechanical engineering apprenticeships for school leavers at age 16. We also accept apprentices transferring from other employers (eg, due to relocation).
We also offer short-term internships for undergraduates and graduates, from time to time when projects allow; plus week-long work experience placements for school and college students; and longer placements for international students.
Supporting Charities & Local Causes
St Luke's Men's Day Out
We regularly support charitable events, especially those with personal connections to our staff. Over the years, we’ve taken part in the St Luke’s Men’s Day Out and donned pink for breast cancer awareness. As proud members of the 110 Club, we also support Improving Lives Plymouth, and we’re Friends of Shekinah.
Men’s Day Out 2024
A record-breaking 2,319 men joined the iconic 12km hike (with plenty of pub stops) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of St Luke’s walk, raising an incredible £130,000 for Plymouth Hospice. Our spirited, pig-tailed team of Harry, Pete, Ian, Dylan, Ethan, and honorary members Damien, Danny, and Luke contributed £1,175.
Men’s Day Out 2023
Check out more details in Your Spring 2023 News Update from Aldermans. View here
Looking ahead to 2025, our team, ever keen to dress up, plans to tackle the streets of Plymouth as seagulls!
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We are one of the South West’s leading metal fabricators. With 50 years’ experience, we are specialists in sheet metal fabrication and custom metal parts.
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- Bell Close, Newnham Industrial Estate, Plymouth, UK, PL7 4JH
- 01752 201200
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