Construction giant Skanska and strategic outsourcing company MITIE are blazing a trail for UK engineering by being among the first to train the next generation of engineers on a new government-backed Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Environmental Technologies.
In less than two months since the qualification was launched, more than 40 high-level apprenticeship places have been confirmed with a further 53 places expected from other employers in the construction, manufacturing and building services sectors.
Paul Jackson, EngineeringUK Chief Executive said, the large number of signups in such a short time indicated the level of demand for skilled engineers across a wide range of industries and a variety of roles.
“It’s crucial to the economy that higher level skills are in place. This year’s Engineering UK Report identifies the need for close to 70,000 people qualified in engineering disciplines at level three and above each year, more than double the existing numbers, and these Higher Apprenticeships take this one level higher. The combination of educational excellence and real experience in industry makes a real difference and I’m pleased to see this early success.”
More than half of the Higher Apprenticeship places will follow the building services pathway of the qualification, with Skanska taking up twelve of those places and MITIE a further six. Professional plumbing and heating company Duel Services LTD, electricians Dual Bound, building maintenance and facilities management support company SPIE Matthew Hall and Barlow’s Electrical of Cheshire have also recruited to the pathway.
Monika Gibbons, Learning and Development Business Partner for Skanska, said the company was looking forward to its employees starting the training in September.
“We find this a very exciting opportunity to develop our engineers’ knowledge and competence and give them a worthy qualification. Higher apprenticeships are an excellent way to develop staff who are keen to progress and improve their career prospects. The scheme is delivered on a day release which is very convenient not only for the students but also for the company minimising time off work” .
NE Plastics from Kent, print services and supplies company Studio Tone, medical instrument manufacturer Clement Clarke International and Cummins Turbo Technologies of Huddersfield have committed to train apprentices for the qualification’s manufacturing pathway and Cape Construction of North London looks set to take on two construction apprentices.
All the apprentices will train in the workplace and with one of nine regional training providers each with strong engineering expertise, including City and Islington College in London which was the lead developer for the new Higher Apprenticeship.
Trevor Hunter, Deputy Director of Apprenticeships at City and Islington College said:
“We’re absolutely delighted with the number and quality of employers committing to this exciting new Higher Apprenticeship. Employers have played an invaluable role in the development of the qualification framework and I’m confident that those amongst their workforce that gain this Higher Apprenticeship will bring important new skills and knowledge to their workplace, helping ensure that companies are able to meet the challenges of operating a 21st century engineering business.”
Engineering has been identified by the Government as a high-growth industry, and the impact of climate change and the Green Deal[1] mean that environmental engineering will be of particular importance to the UK economy.
However, employer concerns about the acute shortfall of around 42,000[2] highly-skilled engineers, with severe under-representation amongst women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups and those with disabilities, prompted the development of the Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Environmental Technologies.
For further information, visit www.futureengineeringtalent.co.uk or call 0207 700 9419.
1 https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures/how-the-green-deal-works
2 Engineering UK: Engineering companies are projected to have 2.74 million job openings from 2010 – 2020, 1.86 million of which will need engineering skills. There will be demand for around 69,000 people qualified at advanced apprenticeship or equivalent level each year. Yet only around 27,000 UK apprentices a year currently qualify at the appropriate level.
