What a 20-Year-Old Apprentice Reveals About New Jobs Coming to North Wales
Kinmel Bay’s Production Manager Justin Hughes with their apprentice Stephanie Hughes-Jones.
Continental Diamond Tool is entering an exciting phase of growth. Over the next two years, we’ll be adding up to 30 new jobs in North Wales to meet the needs of growing industries in Europe and around the world.
Twenty-year-old apprentice Stephanie Hughes-Jones is one of the standout new hires whose experience highlights the opportunities opening up in Kinmel Bay.
At this location, we design and manufacture custom diamond rotary dressers and ultra-high-precision plated grinding wheels for aerospace, automotive, and other advanced industries. The need for superabrasive solutions is growing as more manufacturers turn to hard-to-machine materials like ceramics, hardened steels, and composites.
At CDT, we hear what our customers need, and we respond. The launch of our electro-plated production line in North Wales in 2023 has been a major success. This line, which produces both diamond and CBN grinding wheels, is expected to become the site’s largest product category in the near future.
Our sales team is also bringing CDT’s superabrasive products to new international markets. We now have dedicated local representatives in the Middle East, Mexico, and Poland.
Of course, growth requires investment. That’s why we’ve spent £4 million to upgrade our Kinmel Bay operation. Last summer, the team moved into a purpose-built 30,000 sq ft facility on the Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate — three times the size of our previous site. With this expansion, we will be doubling production capacity and have already increased our team from 35 to 46 skilled workers.
Our growth plan includes expanding the team to around 80 people over the next few years. To get there, we’re actively recruiting both apprentices and skilled operators.
Stephanie — a former pupil of Prestatyn High School — joined CDT after being encouraged by her brother Dan, who also works here. Today, she operates CNC lathes and milling machines, manufacturing high-specification tooling used by customers across the world.
When asked what brought her to custom manufacturing, she said:
“My dad is a mechanic and runs his own garage, and my brother Dan got into engineering. He went to Llandrillo College and joined CDT, and I’ve followed in his footsteps.
I gained my Level Three engineering qualification and did work experience here – people are really surprised when I say I’m an engineer and make things.
I love it. Your brain is constantly working things out and thinking of ways of doing things better. I’ve worked in retail before and didn’t really enjoy it, but this is great.”
While manufacturing has historically been a male-dominated field, CDT has worked to create an environment where anyone with interest and motivation can thrive. A sizable percentage of our workforce is women, and that number continues to grow. Here’s how Stephanie describes her experience:
“I think more girls should get into engineering – they’d enjoy it more than they think.
It is a bit intimidating at first, but everyone here at CDT has been very welcoming and helpful. The company has really encouraged and supported me.
I’m on Level Four HNC now, and next year I would like to move on to a degree apprenticeship.
There’s no reason women can’t do this job just as well as men – gender doesn’t make a difference here. With interest and training, anyone can do it.”
Kinmel Bay’s Production Manager Justin Hughes, who joined the company 18 years ago and whose father was part of the original management team, agrees:
“Stephanie has been an outstanding recruit. Now that we’ve completed the move to the new site, we’re resuming our apprentice programme, and I’m looking forward to seeing more young people working here soon.
The much larger building we have now has allowed us to completely remodel our processes for greater efficiency and a more comfortable working environment – in the old unit, you could hardly move.
It’s been incredible to see the transformation. The expansion is a testament to the strength of our partnership with our parent company in the USA and how committed they are to our success.
Now that we have the space, we’re investing in technology and people to take the business forward.
We’re well placed to make the most of growth in emerging markets – and it’s an exciting time to be part of what’s happening here.”
If you’re hands-on, enjoy a challenge, and eager to grow, we’d love to hear from you. Find job opportunities at our Kinmel Bay facility and the form to apply on our Careers page.
Continental Diamond Tool Limited (CDT Ltd.), based in Kinmel Bay, Rhyl, U.K., is the European subsidiary of Continental Diamond Tool Corporation, headquartered in New Haven, Indiana, U.S.A. For more than 40 years, CDT Ltd. has been a leader in diamond rotary dresser technology, originally operating as Consort Precision Diamond. Since joining CDT, the company has expanded its product line, delivering high-performance diamond plated grinding wheels and other premium superabrasive products to customers worldwide.
