Apprenticeships pledge from engineering employers

27 May, 2016

Pledges have been made by hundreds of businesses, large and small, around the country and across a wide range of sectors. Over 600 pledges came from the engineering sector with employers such as BAE Systems, GKN, Atkins and Arup pledging new apprenticeships.

Traineeships, which give young people the work preparation training, English, maths and work experience needed to get an apprenticeship or other job, also got a boost during the week with employers pledging 1770 traineeship positions. During National Apprenticeship Week 2015, the total was 23,000 apprentices.

Skills Minister Nick Boles commented: "This week I've travelled the country meeting apprentices doing the most incredible jobs, from cooking mussels at Rick Stein's restaurant to fixing helicopters for the Royal Navy. Apprenticeships offer working people the jobs and training they need to build a great career. An apprenticeship really can take you anywhere.

"Employers have pledged more than 30,000 new apprenticeships this week. That means over 30,000 more life changing opportunities for working people."

Jade Aspinall, Higher Apprentice of the Year, MBDA, said: “As an apprentice I am able to earn whilst I learn, gaining degree level qualifications whilst acquiring practical experience at the same time. I believe in learning through experience and my apprenticeship allowed me to do that.

Ambition

“I’m very ambitious about my future. I started university in September, studying a B.Eng in Computer Aided Engineering. I cannot have enough passion and enthusiasm for apprenticeships. Without mine, I wouldn’t be the confident, mature, challenge-driven individual I am today: greatest decision of my life. Since starting my apprenticeship my confidence has increased significantly.”

National Apprenticeship Week, which is led and co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, saw hundreds of events and activities take place across England. A wide range of organisations and individuals, including employers, apprentices, business support and sector organisations, learning providers, colleges and schools, supported the Week by hosting activities.

Key events during the week included a launch event at the Shard in London where businesses in attendance pledged to recruit over 19,000 apprentices. The Business Secretary, Sajid Javid met employers and apprentices and spoke about the future of apprenticeships. The Licence to Skill event at the London Film Museum, attended by the influential figures from the world of technology, digital and the creative industries, focused on the benefits that apprentices can bring to these sectors.

Now in its ninth year, National Apprenticeship Week is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The overarching theme for 2016 was to show how individuals and businesses can achieve their ambitions of ‘rising to the top’ through apprenticeships.