Paul Stockhill is managing director of Doncaster engineering company, Agemaspark. He has played a pivotal role in the development of the UTC and, here, in our latest employer partner Q&A, gives us the lowdown on his career so far as well as some must-have advice for young people interested in engineering and creative and digital design.
Tell us a little about your company?
My company is small SME currently employing 15 people we are a precision engineering company here in Doncaster since 2002, we work in many sectors of manufacturing from aerospace engine components, power generation turbines, gas and oil equipment, plastic mould tool making, medical products and many more.
How did you get to your position as managing director?
After 40 successful years in this industry at first as a toolmaker and later as a general manager
and director of several companies along with a business partner we set up Agemaspark in 2002
In Doncaster and now, 17 years later, I own the company.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is that every day is different and that we can offer the industries that we work for solutions to their problems because we have state of the art machines. When the components and products we build are used in everything from the space station and
aerospace engine equipment, to everyday products such as milk bottles, it’s fantastic. I love to see how proud my team of toolmakers are of the things we make.
Did you always want to have a career in engineering?
Yes, I always wanted to know how thing worked and made I love to design things from scratch.
It is very fulfilling to see things you have made or had an involvement in out there in the world.
What education route did you take?
I had a secondary modern education and started work at 17 as apprentice toolmaker at Crompton Parkinson on Wheatley Hall Road where I completed a five year apprenticeship as an indentured toolmaker. I had a technical college education and achieved ONC qualifications.
What was your favorite subject at school?
Metal work and art.
Why do you feel there is the need for Doncaster UTC?
As an owner of a successful precision engineering company I have a lot of problems finding qualified toolmakers so I made a decision to grow my own and set out on apprenticeship scheme to take on one or two every year in order to ensure the secure future of Agemaspark. To do this in the future we need to be giving the young people of Doncaster the right type of education that will allow them the opportunities to experience the real world from a young age of 14 and have involvement with local industry until at 19 they can make a more informed choice for their future career.
How do you think the UTC will benefit young people and business in this area?
The UTC will not only help the local economy in producing good rounded work ready young people to fill the jobs of the future, the new technologies that are being developed will be at the forefront of the UTC and this will not only give the students the tools to be successful but local businesses can only benefit from this too.
What advice do you have for young people who are interested in a STEM based career?
This is a wonderful way to find out how the world works and to see how things are made the design of products and ways to manufacture them is very rewarding but most of all you can use your imagination to develop skills and knowledge that will not only give you great satisfaction in seeing the final outcome but ensure you have every opportunity to have a successful career.
What are you looking for in your employees?
Well rounded individuals that want to learn and develop to their full potential to be part of a successful team, to be willing to go the extra mile to find success, willing to listen and learn and push the boundaries. But most of all enjoy the work that they do and the rewards will come.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself!
When I was 16 some 50 years ago I represented Doncaster at the Yorkshire 3 AAA Athletic championships in the Long Jump & 100 Yards (10.3sec).
Posted: 20 August, 2019
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