The new scheme supported by Semta's chairman Allan Cook, Siemens and Nissan seeks to keep workers facing redundancy in skilled occupation.
The Talent Retention Solution (TRS) is web-based and Cook hopes that with the weight of Siemens and Nissan, the scheme will be taken up by other businesses in the North-West.
The aim is to assist engineers in the defence and aerospace industry to secure a position in other industries such as engineering and advanced manufacturing.
An event promoting the scheme takes place at Gateshead College today, where attendees will hear about what the system can offer from Nissan and Siemens. The college is the only one of its kind in the UK – it focuses primarily on battery manufacturing, testing and safety. In the near future, the production of electric vehicle technology will form a large part of the college’s focus.
As chairman of the TRS, Cook hopes that businesses in the North West will be encouraged by the presence of Siemens and Nissan: “[This partnership means] we have true employer ownership to solve a problem affecting the public and private sectors and the talented people they employ.”
Colin Lawther, Nissan vice president for production engineering in Europe, said: “Nissan is currently recruiting up to 200 new engineers and maintenance technicians at our Sunderland Plant and we see the TRS as a valuable source of potential new employees who could fill these posts.”
Siemen’s HR director Mike Jones said: “Matching talent with task and opportunity is a fundamental business priority in meeting the business challenges ahead within the energy sector – particularly with the growth of the low carbon economy.
George Archer
