Wednesday 30 June 2010

Widen your search for Apprenticeship opportunities

In my final piece on Apprenticeship for the academic year 2009/10 I was struck by an article in the Belfast Telegraph on Tuesday 27th April 2010 when Symon Ross informed us that the Engineering Training Council (ETC) was inviting applications for more than 100 engineering apprenticeships to begin in September.


The ETC's subsidiary, Engineering Training Services (ETS) which recruits on behalf of engineering companies throughout NI, said its 2010 recruitment drive was open to anyone with an interest in the sector.
Funded by the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) under its ApprenticeshipsNI programme, the scheme aims to match candidates with the opportunities that companies have on offer in areas such as mechanical maintenance, welding, technical support, and toolmaking.

Though there are not as many apprenticeships available as before the recession, there is still strong interest from both employers and job seekers.  The programme has run for ten years now but the sector is not as buoyant as it once was. Because of the economic downturn over the past year, there have been more young people than positions available. There is a very uneven picture with companies - some with embargoes on recruiting while others are desperate to get more people through their  doors, and it's the small companies in particular who are keen to take on apprentices.

ETS believes it could receive up to 600 applications, around half of which will go through  to an aptitude test in June before being considered for the jobs. The industry is keen to encourage more women to apply for apprenticeships in the engineering sector, where they have traditionally been under-represented.

 In a companion piece on engineering I was interested to read that the inventor James Dyson sees terrific opportunities for engineers when he recently announced plans to double the number of UK engineers working in his Wiltshire laboratories.
Dyson is doubling its UK engineering team from 350 to 700. Bucking the trend, Dyson is increasing research and development investment and recruiting during recession.
The new engineers, many from university, will work at Dyson's Wiltshire laboratories, where machines are conceived, researched and designed. New positions include graduate design engineers, mechanical engineers and acoustic engineers.

Dyson - the second highest UK patent filer after Rolls Royce - invests millions developing new technology every year, making it one of Britain's most inventive companies. Areas of expertise include microbiology, fluid, mechanical, electrical, electro-magnetic compatibility, thermal, acoustic and software engineering.

Dyson employs over 2,500 people worldwide. The number in the UK is set to rise to 1,600. This heavy investment in British engineering talent follows James Dyson's recent report

Ingenious Britain
Making the UK the leading high tech exporters in Europe
March 2010
which calls for education reforms and greater R and D tax credits to make Britain Europe's leading high tech exporter.

Since 2005 Dyson has quadrupled its Rand D investment. Dyson exports its machines from the UK to 49 countries and is market leader in the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe and Canada.
James Dyson said:

 "I am extremely proud of the new technology developed by our engineers in Malmesbury. It is vital that Dyson - and the UK - continues to invest in the nation's engineering talent if we are to stay ahead."

"With excellent young aspiring scientists and engineers in our schools it falls to companies such as Dyson to encourage this future generation. As our need for good design and technology increases so does the need for creative and adventurous designers, engineers and scientists."

Lesson ideas

Why not compile a list of all the major employers like the one listed below offering apprenticeships and have it posted around the school. (You will get help to compile this from DEL Careers Officer)

In an article in Times Education Supplement 28th May 2010, Alan Thomson provides an insight into apprenticeship opportunities within the airline Flybe. Airline Flybe is based in the west country at Exeter airport. Currently, Flybe delivers the only industry recognised vocational qualifications for cabin crew. It offers training for aircraft engineers - recently launched a new aircraft engineering apprenticeship - pilots and managers. A new £24 million training facility purpose built, together with a new hotel providing accommodation for trainees during their courses, is currently in progress. The airline is also working with Exeter college and university to develop foundation degrees to accredit the management skills of its more senior staff. The company has a different approach to apprenticeships.  These 4 year qualifications are delivered as a full time education programme so the trainees are not employed by Flybe and are not therefore recognised as apprentices by the government.  But this matters little to those who sign up knowing they are guaranteed a £30,000 per annum job if they pass the course.

BAE Systems - defence and security systems - employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and has sales in excess of £22 billion in 2009. It runs highly competitive programmes both for school leavers and graduates. It has 1,000 apprenticeships at any one time and recruits 300 every year!!.  The three and a half year apprenticeships cost the company some £80,000 for each apprenticeship!  Some 90% of those who complete the apprenticeship stay on with the company. BAE designs and delivers its own programmes.

MCDONALDS is its own awarding body - 6,000 signed up for level 2 apprenticeship in hospitality since its launch in January 2009. McDonald's has enabled more than 8100 people to study for apprenticeships last year - 10% of its UK workforce. McDonalds spends some £30 million a year on training.

Opportunities within the ICT sector
An Apprenticeship opens up a wide range of options, including:
  • A Higher Apprenticeship, which includes a Foundation Degree and leads on to a full honours degree
  •  Progression on to new job roles, such as Management, Technical Specialists.
Apprentices are motivated young people who have the potential to become ‘managers of the future’. Apprenticeships provide a foundation from which young people can progress into management roles, particularly where the Apprenticeship frameworks are aligned to a company’s management development programmes. Apprentices learn while they work so their knowledge is up-to-date and because their training is on the job, the practical skills they gain are the ones that are right for the organisation’s business.
There is the opportunity for an Apprentice to gain a degree if they have the motivation and ability. This is a “fast-track” apprenticeship to a full Honours degree via a Foundation Degree. A high quality work based training and development programme demanding high standards. It aims at raising the skill levels of people available to the ICT industry to degree level. It is essential therefore that the selection process for potential “Higher Apprentices” is both rigorous and effective. Who can apply?

Students at schools or sixth-form / FE colleges with A- Levels or equivalent educational attainment including NVQs, Baccalaureate, relevant Level 3 IT related technical qualification
Advanced Apprentices wishing to progress further
Employees with A-Levels or equivalent educational attainment
Employees who have worked in the industry for a number of years and demonstrated to their employer that they have a reasonable expectation of achieving the stated outcomes

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