Since taking on its first 140 apprentices in autumn 2013, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Training Centre has grown rapidly into an award-winning centre of excellence with more than 400 employed-status apprentices.
This figure is expected to rise to 650 during the next academic year, as demand for apprenticeships continues to grow and young people realise their dreams to pursue an exciting career in engineering.
Based in Rotherham, the University of Sheffield’s 5,500 sqm AMRC Training Centre was established to train the next generation of world leading engineers
Programme manager, Dan Swift, commented: “More and more young people are choosing to earn and learn, seeing the value in getting real hands on experience alongside their qualifications, free from the burden of student-debt.
“We are also seeing a positive push from the region’s local schools and colleges, who are starting to recommend apprenticeship training as a first choice option to their higher-level achieving students. This increases demand and awareness of apprenticeships across the sector, and we have witnessed our apprentice numbers growing at an astonishing rate.”
In preparation for the September 2016 start dates, the Training Centre is holding extra ‘assessment centre’ dates throughout the year to manage the amount of new applicants interested in taking advantage of the new apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships and degree level opportunities.
After putting in an application, potential apprentices are put through the assessment centre day, which includes a job style interview and series of tasks to determine suitability.
Successful applicants then go onto employer-matching events, where they speak to the various employers advertising with the Training Centre to find a role which suits them. Local employers are already advertising their vacancies for this coming year at the Training Centre. Companies offering apprenticeships with the Training Centre vary from major global businesses to local SMEs, such as Rolls-Royce; Nikken; AESSEAL; Gripple; Cooper and Turner, and Technicut.
The advanced Training Centre has held approximately 65 assessment centre days since opening in January 2014, assessing a total of 1,820 potential apprentices.
As demand is increasing, a further 18 additional assessment centre days are to be held between now and September 2016, with dates available for April, May and June filling up fast.
If you are interested in applying, submitting your application soon on www.amrctraining.co.uk is essential.
Swift continued: “We encourage any final year GCSE, AS or A Level students thinking about studying engineering, or who have an interest in subjects such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics [STEM] to come to an open day at the Training Centre.”
“Engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships open doors to a wide range of exciting careers in mechanical manufacturing; fabrication and welding; technical support; design; electronics and maintenance; and our new degree and masters level apprenticeships means there are more career options than ever for young people,” he added.
