Nissan has today opened 25 fresh apprenticeships, part of the 75 announced last year that the company intends to create at Sunderland Plant from 2010-2015.
These 25 vacancies are for trainee maintenance technicians, who will train to work in the team who maintain the production facilities. Those accepted will start their on-the-job training this September.
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan’s vice president for manufacturing in the UK, commented: “Hiring apprentices is a tried and tested way of investing in the future of the company, at the same time as giving our staff the practical skills and academic qualifications they will need for a successful career.”
The five-year scheme combines theoretical and practical skills, giving successful applicants the chance to work towards nationally-recognised qualifications through on-the-job and academic training, while earning a competitive salary.
The first year of the scheme is spent completing off-the-job training at the Gateshead College Skills Academy. The remaining 4 years are spent in the plant, working with the most up-to-date manufacturing equipment in the industry, with day release at college.
Andrew Lawson, 23, has just been named Nissan Sunderland Plant’s Trainee Maintenance Technician of the Year for 2011. He said: “I’m coming to the end of my apprenticeship, and my immediate plan is to pass my skills test and stay at Nissan for the foreseeable future. I’ve enjoyed being an apprentice: I’ve gained good experience working on line which backs up what I’ve learned at college, I enjoy shift work and earn a good wage.”
As well as receiving all the skills and knowledge they will require for their job, the new apprentices will study towards nationally-recognised qualifications developed with NA College and Gateshead College, including NVQ Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations, NVQ Level 3 Engineered Systems, Certificate in Engineering, Extended Diploma in Engineering and Foundation Degree in Maintenance Engineering.
The Sunderland Plant manufactured 423,262 units in 2010, which accounted for more than one in three of all passenger cars produced in the UK. It has been the UK’s biggest car producer every year since 1998. Preparations are currently under way for the newly-crowned Car of the Year, the 100% electric Nissan LEAF, to be manufactured at the plant.
Anybody interested in the scheme should call the Nissan Training Section on 0191 418 4219 for further information.
