Titgemeyer specialise in the production of industrial manufacturing systems and employs an approximately 500-strong workforce across the globe.

The UK division of Titgemeyer has just employed its first apprentice and we caught up with UK MD, David Weissgerber, to quiz him on their latest recruit. 

Great to speak with you David. So this is your first apprentice?

That’s correct. It’s the first in our UK division but something that our German HQ has been operating for some time now. I know nine apprentices have graduated this year alone and we have a further 27 currently going through the scheme.

That’s really impressive! So essentially the scheme is being rolled out into the UK market?

Not exactly. We’ve not been pushed to roll it out, rather it’s definitely something that we still want to do. As you can see, apprenticeships are a core philosophy of Titgemeyer and I feel that’s something we now need to be progressing in the UK.

And why is that exactly?

Well essentially it’s the best way to ensure quality control I feel. With apprentices we have the opportunity to grow our own talent and develop an individual who is completely inducted into the ethos of the company. We also came across a scenario not so long ago which I suppose was the catalyst. We operate in the Black Country which has a rich heritage in manufacturing but have recently found ourselves struggling in the selection process when looking to hire. We’re hoping that an apprenticeship scheme will solve that.

So does Germany take apprenticeships more seriously?

I wouldn’t necessarily say just apprenticeships, but training as a whole. In Germany you have to have the paper that says you’re qualified.

And is that something we need to adopt in the UK?

I think we already do to some extent but it’s the direction that we’re pushing the next generation that’s the problem. It’s not that we have a skills shortage but manufacturing has declined as we’ve pushed more and more people into the services sector. Our newest and first apprentice is actually qualified in media studies but upon graduating discovered that there aren’t actually any relevant jobs available. Hence he’s diversified and applied himself to the manufacturing sector where I envisage a very bright future for him.

That’s great to hear David. How did you find your apprentice?

In this particular case the successful candidate was introduced to us through a friend of the company but we found EEF particularly useful. They’ve been excellent for guidance, search and selection plus hold a similar belief of learning on the job, getting hands-on and really discovering how things work.

Superb, thanks for your time David.

David’s given us some great insight on apprenticeship schemes abroad and if you’re interested in growing your own talent, take a look at our dedicated section for employers interested in an apprenticeship scheme,