17.3.2016

Apprentices take to the floor for apprenticeship week

Four British Engines apprentices have been put to the test by local students, keen to get a taste of what life is like as an engineering apprentice.

The visit to British Engines group company, CMP Products, was organised as part of National Apprenticeship Week. It saw the 15-16 year old students from Bede Academy take part in a round of quick fire questions with current apprentices from all years of the scheme.

Ross Broadbent, Harrison Cowell, Daryll Ahomet and Elliot Needham gave up their time to answer questions from the Bede Academy pupils.

Many of the students were interested in what the apprentices enjoyed most or least about the scheme and importantly, how much they were paid!

The apprentices answered honestly, telling the students that they especially enjoyed the practical hands-on learning and working in a factory environment with state-of-the-art technology. They also told the group of students from Blyth that the only downside is getting out of bed in the mornings!

Following the Q & A session, the students were given a tour around the CMP Products factory in Cramlington, which designs and manufactures a range of cable glands and cable cleats for a number of industries all over the world.

Alan Corner, head of sixth form at Bede Academy said: “It was a great opportunity for students to hear about apprenticeships from people who really know what they are all about. The students loved the opportunity to see round the factory, and particularly benefitted from the Q & A session with the apprentices.”

The British Engines four year apprenticeship scheme was the first scheme in the North East to be accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). This means that apprentices on the scheme receive a formal accreditation by the IMechE on top of their apprenticeship qualifications.

Denis Healy, business development manager at the IMechE said: “It’s great to see British Engines playing a big part in inspiring young people to take up engineering apprenticeships. This is a great example of a leading North East engineering business opening its doors to school students to show them the potential of an engineering career.

“The apprentice route is an exciting way into the engineering profession where young people can acquire practical engineering skills alongside studying. And, of course, they have all the benefits of working with a world class employer, getting a salary, alongside building their skills and knowledge.

“This partnership between leading companies and schools in our region is really important, and enables year 10 and 11 school students to talk to apprentices, and experience for themselves the opportunities that an engineering career can provide.”

Applications for the British Engines 2016 apprenticeship programme close at the end of this month.