A Rubber Specialist Building Generations of Talent from Dispatch to Engineering

Combining internal progression and new talent to develop generations of skilled engineers ready to tackle the UK’s manufacturing challenges.

The Middleton manufacturer is known for its highly specialised rubber extrusions, a reputation largely built through its people. At Nufox Rubber, staff development and internal progression are at the heart of the business model.

Many in the industry will recognise the challenge: a workforce with deep expertise is ageing, with large numbers approaching retirement over the next decade. Nufox saw this danger early on. Around half of its production team is already in their 50s or early 60s, with many boasting over 20 years of continuous experience. Mike, one of the company’s engineers, has an extraordinary 34-year tenure since joining straight from school.

This level of loyalty speaks volumes about Nufox’s culture. The manufacturer has deliberately built a structure that rewards commitment and enables internal growth. It’s common to find people who started in entry-level roles (such as dispatch or basic machine operation) now working in skilled engineering and production positions. This secures not just loyalty but critical technical expertise that can’t be bought off the shelf.

This approach is a strategy for preserving complex rubber extrusion expertise that demands a deep understanding of materials, tooling, and production, ensuring knowledge is passed across generations.

But internal progression alone isn’t enough, which is why Nufox invests in new talent like Chamila, a technical engineer with advanced design skills who’s already contributing to HS2 components and fire-rated materials. His role reflects a deliberate balance of continuity and innovation to meet modern customer demands while maintaining Nufox’s heritage of quality.

The industry skills gap demands that older and younger generations of engineers work together to share knowledge, technical capabilities, innovative techniques, and progressive approaches. Nufox’s people-first culture supports this approach, with hands-on management fostering communication across departments so new hires benefit from mentorship and collaboration. Staff know their work is about delivering custom-engineered solutions that keep rail networks running and support critical industries, giving them a strong sense of purpose and loyalty.

In doing this, the company is building a resilient, skilled team ready to meet whatever challenges come over the horizon for modern manufacturing.