The National Apprenticeship Service has launched a new film to encourage more young people to explore the wide range of apprenticeship opportunities available in manufacturing and engineering.
In the film, which can be view below, four former and current apprentices working in different roles across the sector, recount their experience and talk about how an apprenticeship has benefited them.
The four stars, who work for defence firm, MBDA Missile Systems, precision engineering manufacturer, Warren Services, yacht building and boat repairs business, Berthon Boat Company and multi-national defence, security and aerospace company, BAE Systems, also talk about the breadth of skills they developed during their apprenticeship and the importance of the sector to the economy.
Employers, led by Semta, the Sector Skills Council for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering sectors, are being encouraged to promote the film across the sector and to young people. The film will also be used by the National Apprenticeship Service in resource packs for schools and at careers events up and down the country.
Sam Parker, 24, who features in the film, is currently doing an Advanced Apprenticeship in Marine Electrics at the Berthon Boat Company in Lymington, Hampshire. He said, “My apprenticeship has given me an amazing opportunity to achieve a well respected qualification, as well as gain valuable experience in an innovative, high growth industry. Within manufacturing and engineering there are so many different types of jobs, for all sorts of people. I hope the film will highlight to other young people just how rewarding an apprenticeship is and encourage them to investigate the options available.”
Sarah Sillars OBE, chief executive at Semta, commented, “Apprenticeship starts in engineering and advanced manufacturing have increased by more than 85% in the past two years. However, engineering and manufacturing still has an image problem – we need more teachers and parents to understand apprenticeships will benefit their children and not somebody else’s.
“The sector needs to recruit 82,000 people just to cover retirements up to 2016. Apprenticeships are key to tackling this issue – providing individuals with the advanced skills and experience to not only set them on a successful career path, but also help ensure growth in what is one of the UK’s priority sectors.”
David Way, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, added, “Britain has an excellent reputation for high quality manufacturing and engineering and is the birth place of some of the most innovative companies in the sector. Apprenticeships are vital to future-proofing that reputation. Making things and making things work is what an apprenticeship in this sector is all about and there is a wide range to choose from. The film aims to show just how diverse these opportunities are and encourage more young people to apply for an apprenticeship.”
The film is the third in a series of ‘sector in the spotlight’ films being created by the National Apprenticeship Service to promote apprenticeships in key industry sectors.
