UK’s First Pre-Apprenticeship Scheme Welcomes Second Intake

By adi Group
schedule26th Jul 17

Birmingham-based engineering company, adi Group, has selected students for its 2017 pre-apprenticeship intake, taking the total number of students on the scheme to 24.

Launched in 2016, the adi pre-apprenticeship programme is the first of its kind in the UK, providing 14-16-year olds in the local area with practical training in a real-world environment.

A new class of 12 pupils in Year 10 at North Bromsgrove High School are set to join the scheme in September, spending half a day per week in a live workshop at adi’s headquarters in Kings Norton as part of their EAL Level 1 Engineering and Manufacturing qualification.

Having completed an application, the students were then shortlisted before being interviewed for the twelve places. The successful candidates will learn the practical, hands-on skills needed to carve a career in either mechanical or electrical engineering. These are taught by the Group’s highly-qualified engineers and include welding, basic wiring, health and safety and reading technical drawings.

The 12 new pre-apprentices were given a tour of adi’s facilities, and a comprehensive health and safety demonstration. They also had a chance to meet with their future mentors, and received individual folders detailing the course.

Over the last four years, adi has continued its commitment to helping close the skills gapby supporting students in exploring their options and promoting engineering as a rewarding career path, and hopes to create nearly 50 new pre-apprenticeships by 2020. The partnership has also been recognised as a primary example of best practice by the CBI West Midlands, as well as West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street.

Alan Lusty, CEO of adi Group, comments: “I myself started out as an engineering apprentice, so I have experienced first-hand the benefits of such schemes. The Midlands is known for its world-class engineering, and we as a company are committed to inspiring the next generation of hands-on engineers and providing employment opportunities across the Midlands.

“Over 600,000 people in the Midlands work in manufacturing, delivering over 21% of the UK’s annual manufacturing output. As a result, it is vital to ensure young people receive the training they need to take on the high-paid, high-skilled jobs of the future.

“Our hope is that in due course, qualifications like ours will be implemented across the country, raising youth interest in engineering throughout the UK.”

For those interested in adopting the pre-apprenticeship model within their own business, an information pack – Inspiring the Workforce of Tomorrow – is available to download for free. If you’d like any further information please contact PR[at]adiltd.co.uk or visit www.adiltd.co.uk



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