More than 30 apprenticeship positions are now available at two of the UK's leading manufacturing training hubs.
Marches Centre of Technology & Manufacturing (MCMT) and its partner In-Comm Training Academy Shrewsbury (ITAS) are looking to grow the industrial talent of the future by offering trailblazer courses in welding, general engineering and machining.
The apprenticeships have a March start and with Shropshire employers keen to step up and address the skills shortage, many have jobs attached to them.
Apprenticeship and centre co-ordinator at MCMT, Amy Farley explained: “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to get into engineering and manufacturing and have access to two sites that have over £5m of investment channelled into them.
“All of the courses are delivered by expert trainers from In-Comm Training and the apprentices will be learning on a host of state-of-the-art equipment, including robotics, CNC machines, metrology and Mig, Tig and Arc welding bays.”
Farley add: “Going down the apprenticeship route can give you a clear pathway into industry and to securing a degree in exactly the same timescale as if you decided to go to University.
“The difference is that doing it this way you are likely to be £100,000 better off from not having any debt and earning while you’re learning.
“This next cohort could be ideal for individuals who have started a job and realised it’s not for them or someone who wants a career change into the exciting world of ‘making things’.”
Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology is run by a consortium of Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, In-Comm Training and Salop Design & Engineering.
The Bridgnorth site is housed in a 36,000 sqft site facility on the Stanmore Industrial Estate and provides a high-tech environment for individuals to learn from engineering experts on the latest technology.
All of this is geared towards providing opportunities for apprentices to apply their new-found skills on real-world manufacturing situations.
It is equipped with more than £2m of cutting-edge equipment, including dedicated fabrication, foundry, lathe, metrology, milling, robotics and vehicle trimming sections.
ITAS is co-located on the Salop Design & Engineering site and offers modern lathes, milling centres, surface grinders, welding bays and a 10-seat CAD training room.
As part of the recruitment drive, two open days are being held for businesses and schools to get involved and meet both apprentices and trainers, tour the two facilities and learn more about the courses on offer.
The programme of activities is still being finalised, but the first one will reportedly be at Bridgnorth on February 9, followed by Shrewsbury on February 15.
Companies backing the next cohort with employment opportunities are Grainger & Worrall, Fabweld Steel Products and the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), who are recruiting six apprentices.
The latter is offering paid-for accommodation at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford campus for young people that may not be local to Shropshire.
