Apprenticeship boost at training hubs

More than 30 apprenticeship places are up for grabs at two of the region’s leading manufacturing training hubs.

Marches Centre of Technology & Manufacturing (MCMT) and its partner In-Comm Training Academy Shrewsbury (ITAS) are looking to grow the industrial talent of the future by offering the latest trailblazer courses in welding, general engineering and machining.

Recruitment is taking place for a March start and many of the positions have jobs attached to them with employers keen to do more to bridge gaps by increasing the pipeline of skills available in Shropshire.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to get into engineering and manufacturing and have access to two sites that have over £5m of investment channelled into them,” explained Amy Farley, Apprenticeship and Centre Co-ordinator at MCMT.

“All of the courses are delivered by expert trainers from In-Comm Training and the apprentices will be learning on a host of state-of-the-art equipment, including robotics, CNC machines, metrology and Mig, Tig and Arc welding bays.

“Going down the apprenticeship route can give you a clear pathway into industry and to securing a degree in exactly the same timescale as if you decided to go to University. The difference is that doing it this way you are likely to be £100,000 better off from not having any debt and earning whilst you’re learning.

“This next cohort could be ideal for individuals who have started a job and realised it’s not for them or someone who wants a career change into the exciting world of ‘making things’.”

Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology is run by a consortium of Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, In-Comm Training and Salop Design & Engineering.

The Bridgnorth site is housed in a 36,000 sq ft site facility on the Stanmore Industrial Estate and provides a high-tech environment for individuals to learn from engineering experts on the latest technology – all geared towards giving them opportunities to apply their new found skills on real life manufacturing situations.

It is equipped with over £2m of state-of-the-art equipment, including dedicated fabrication, foundry, lathe, metrology, milling, robotics and vehicle trimming sections.

ITAS is co-located on the Salop Design & Engineering site and offers modern lathes, milling centres, surface grinders, welding bays and a 10-seat CAD training room.

Rhian Emery, Business Development Manager at MCMT, said: “Employers are really excited about the way we are approaching skills and training and actively want to get involved.

“As part of our recruitment drive, we are going to be holding two open days for businesses and schools to come down and meet our apprentices and our trainers, look around our two facilities and find out more about the courses on offer.

“The programme of activities is still being finalised, but the first one will be at Bridgnorth on February 9th, followed by Shrewsbury on 15th. It’s time for the region to step up and address the skills shortage.”

Companies backing the next cohort with employment opportunities are Grainger & Worrall, Fabweld Steel Products and the Engineering Technology Group, who are recruiting six apprentices. The latter is offering paid-for accommodation at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford campus for young people that may not be local to Shropshire.