The film follows an apprentice through the pre-entry training programme at Newton Chambers & Co. Ltd., Chapeltown, Sheffield The titles and credits appear over views of the Thorncliffe Works and workers entering the factory gates A Welcome to work A Pathe production Filmed at the Thorncliffe Works of Newton Chambers & Co Ltd Photography George Stevens Sound Supervisor William S. Bland Recordist James Morris Art Director Bernard Sarron Film Editor Edith White Produced by Howard...

The film follows an apprentice through the pre-entry training programme at Newton Chambers & Co. Ltd., Chapeltown, Sheffield The titles and credits appear over views of the Thorncliffe Works and workers entering the factory gates A Welcome to work A Pathe production Filmed at the Thorncliffe Works of Newton Chambers & Co Ltd Photography George Stevens Sound Supervisor William S. Bland Recordist James Morris Art Director Bernard Sarron Film Editor Edith White Produced by Howard Thomas Technical Advisosr D. Longmuir & J. W. Graely Directed by Alec Bristow Commentary by Wilfred Pickles Music written and conducted by Debroy Somers 'John' leaves home for his first day at work. His parents see him off and stand outside the house discussing their son starting work. John walks into the works and joins a group of other boys. A young man is being shown out of an office. 'John Frost' is shown in by a secretary and is introduced to Mr. Graely. John wants to be a fitter and Mr. Graely explains the training programme. The trainees in the college classroom are given intelligence tests to complete. There is then an introductory talk in the boardroom by Mr. West , the Managing Director. From the roof of the General Offices the trainees are shown the layout of the works and the location of the main buildings. They are then taken into the works canteen for dinner. The commentary explains that while the boys are having technical training, the girls learn shorthand and typing and secretarial and office routines. The girls in the works college practice typing to a music background that helps the rhythm of the typing. In their classroom the trainees are divided into teams to begin their training. Inside John's house his parents wait for him to arrive home from his first day at work. When John arrives he sits at the table for his meal, ready to answer their questions. Later John's father talks about work and training to a neighbour in the garden. Lying in bed, John thinks about the first month at work. In the gymnasium the exercises are designed to help prepare the trainees for work in the factory - PT with a purpose. Exercises that simulate the type of work they will be doing are followed by examples of tasks in the factory including preparing a mould, hammering, filing and pushing tubs. The trainees are then shown being instructed in the use of axes and shovels. In the classroom managers talk to the trainees about the different departments, followed by visits to the works. The activities shown include feeding a boiler, the movement of tubs at the colliery, tapping a furnace in the foundry, the coal distillation plant where coke is being pushed from the ovens, the machine shop and the Izal bottling and packing line. There are also lectures on health and hygiene and a medical examination. During their lunchtime the girls play rounders while the boys play basketball. Changing rooms and showers are provided for the boys. The trainees are shown how to use fire extinguishers and how to fight a fire. Girls are shown around an exhibition and are taught how to use the telephone. A lecture by the Traffic Manager is followed by a chance to see one of the locomotives. At the end of the pre-entry month the trainees are tested in the classroom. The Superintendent of Apprentice Training allocates jobs for the next stage of craft training and presents craft badges. John's mother is sewing the badge on John's overalls and talks about her son's training with a neighbour. The trainees' mothers have been invited to tour the works. They visit the mining training centre, the foundry training centre where a trainee is making a casting, the engineering centre where they see the machine tools and the welding training section. They are shown the boys' training records and are then given tea in the dining room by the Welfare Officer. In the classroom the trainees have their end of course test. John will now go into the machine shop for training. He is seen being instructed on one of the machines. The trainees leave the factory gates and look back over the works. The closing titles appear over a view of the General Offices. The end The beginning Background: Newton Chambers operated a large integrated site at Thorncliffe that included collieries, coke ovens, chemical works, foundries and engineering works. Boys and girls joining Newton Chambers were given a months preparation on the pre-entry course that provided an introduction to the activities of the company. The courses began in 1942, initially for boys employed in the collieries but later extended to other crafts. For further details see: Newton Chambers & Co. Ltd. Apprentice training scheme: pre-entry course programme. [includes the four week timetable for the pre-entry course]. (Sheffield Local Studies Library: MP 809 S) Newton Chambers & Co. Ltd. Thorncliffe: a short description of the main activities of Newton Chambers. (Sheffield Local Studies Library: local pamphlets, vol.10, 042 SQ) The film includes mention of the collieries and the mining training centre. This may indicate that the film was made pre-1947 when the coal mines were nationalised. Provenance: The film was found in the premises of South Riding Estates who occupied buildings on the Thorncliffe site. Donated to Sheffield Libraries in October 1988.