Engineering and manufacturing careers promoted

Shropshire’s largest dedicated career event for vocational learning in engineering and manufacturing is set to take place next week.

The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Engineering (MCMT) will host a special day for young people and mature learners to explore the latest apprenticeship opportunities currently available in the county.

Held on April 23 from 10am to 3pm, the interactive event will assemble a large collection of employers looking to recruit future staff, as well as giving visitors a chance to look around the 40,000 sq ft training centre on the Stanmore Industrial Estate in Bridgnorth.

There they will find over £4m of technology, including the latest metrology, a dedicated CNC zone, robotics and a recently installed electrical cell.

“This is a perfect opportunity for local people to come down and see what an apprenticeship can offer them– and better still it’s all under one roof with numerous firms taking part, including Engineering Technology Group, Hyfore, and Guhring,” commented Matt Smallwood, centre manager at MCMT Shrewsbury.

“We have over 40 different part and full-time Trailblazer apprenticeships currently available, ranging from machinist and mechatronics to a soon-to-be launched Heritage technician course that will look to replenish dying craft skills in automotive.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to set-out on a career path in industry that could lead to a good salary, international travel and the chance to design/make things that can change the way we all lead our lives. And this isn’t just an opportunity for young people. We are also seeing an increase in older people choosing to use an apprenticeship as a way of retraining for a career in a different sector.”

The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology is an employer-led consortium of Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, Salop Design & Engineering and In-Comm Training.

It operates two state-of-the-art facilities in Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury and was set-up to help bridge the skills and competency gaps found in local industry, providing apprentices and thousands of upskilling opportunities between now and 2020.

This is the first time it has put on a dedicated careers day and trainers will be on hand to discuss courses on offer, whilst a number of apprentices will give a first-hand insight into learning at MCMT.