With Chancellor Philip Hammond’s 2017 Budget announcing an initiative for 16- to 19-year-old technical students to prevent Britain from “languishing at the bottom” of the international league table for STEM education,1 engineering firm adi Group reminds businesses of the vital role they must play.
The rest of the world is continuing to develop and grow its engineering proficiency and this creates more competition than ever before. The goal of the government is to transform the country’s technical education system in order to help close the skills gap, and ultimately maintain the UK’s lead as a world-leading innovator. Initiatives include creating sector-specific routes to employment supported by an increase in the number of hours of learning by over 50%, and including a high-quality work placement for each student.
Recognising how crucial young, skilled apprentices are to securing a healthy economy and vibrant future for the UK, adi Group began the UK’s first pre-apprenticeship scheme for 14-16 year olds in September 2016.
Now, six months later, the Group is unwavering in its goal to not only invest in the UK engineers of tomorrow but to inspire others as well. Its vision is for the pre-apprenticeship model to be adopted by businesses of all industries across the UK, ultimately reaching out to thousands of children via a network of like-minded businesses interacting with their local schools.
Alan Lusty, CEO of adi Group comments: “The need for apprentices to help close the skills gap is more relevant than ever, and the budget reflects this. adi Group is in full support of the government providing an additional £500 million a year for 16- to 19-year-old technical students and introducing maintenance loans for higher level qualifications.2
“Since launching the UK’s first engineering pre-apprenticeship scheme in partnership with a local secondary school, adi Group has been at the forefront of revolutionising the future of STEM education in the UK and tackling the nationwide deficit in high-quality apprenticeships.3
“As such, the pre-apprenticeship model is completely available, free of charge, for any employer or school that wishes to replicate an existing scheme which has proven to work, and work well. Implementation is straightforward and any sector, whether in industry or professional services, can benefit – thus encouraging younger generations to try something new and engage in the workplace whilst still at school.”
Having offered apprenticeships since it was founded in 1990, adi formalised its commitment to the cause with the launch of its Apprenticeship Academy in November 2014. For more information or to apply for an apprenticeship with adi, visit www.adiltd.co.uk/careers.
2 As above.
