Apprentices and Skills
EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation is investing in a new state-of-the-art Apprentice & Skills Training Centre in the West Midlands that will set the standard for world class manufacturing education.
The bespoke training facility at Nexus Point, Witton, in Birmingham will replace EEF's current centre at Tyseley. The investment is designed to ensure that companies are able to access state of the art training facilities and will provide opportunities for learning, re-skilling and up-skilling from Apprentices through to Adult Learners.
The multi-million pound investment will double the number of classrooms and lecture theatres currently available, as well as increasing the footprint of all workshop training areas to provide greater capacity and, an increased range of manufacturing technologies. Initially the Centre is being designed to be able to train 130 apprentices on any given day, with apprentices getting their own dedicated training work stations, whether that be a CNC machine, CAD work station or welding bay. Trainees will rotate around the various sections during their training and will have the opportunity to specialise in any skills area.
Bite-sized re-skilling and up-skilling courses will also be available, developed around employers’ needs. Manufacturing, mechanical and electrical pathways will continue to be the core offering and the delivery team will ensure apprentice programmes, be they Apprenticeships, Advanced Apprenticeships, Higher Apprenticeships (and potentially Traineeships), are designed and delivered to meet the needs of employers.
Apprentices and delegates attending the Centre will be assured of first rate facilities and training delivery as EEF will continue its focus on maintaining high quality training provision in premises and an environment that will meet our customers’ expectations. Part of the investment will fund new high technology machines and training equipment and there will be self-study IT breakout areas, together with improved catering provision.
The centre is targeted for opening in September, in time to welcome the new 2013 intake. It offers good transport links by road and rail and EEF will also run a shuttle bus service in the locality, connecting with Birmingham city centre at the start and end of the day.
Commenting, Peter Winebloom, EEF Apprentices and Skills Director, said:
"This will be an industry-leading apprentice centre for employers in the West Midlands and across the UK, with sufficient capacity to cater for current and future needs."
"This significant investment symbolises the importance EEF places on apprenticeships. We are committed to providing employers and other UK manufacturing organisations with the very best facilities and training to equip their young employees with the skills they require."
He added: "We looked at options of developing our existing site, but it was too constrained. All the current programmes will transfer from Tyseley, but we intend to expand our existing portfolio in response to employer demand. The new centre will enable EEF members and other clients to develop their own bespoke facilities (or areas within the facility) dedicated to their trainees."
Also commenting, Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
“With figures out this week showing growth in the manufacturing sector, it’s important we are giving people the right training to meet future demand.
“The Government is investing in a record number of apprentices and creating a £150 million pot for employers to create the training schemes they need. But we must work in partnership with industry and others if we are to remain competitive and create growth.
“Facilities like these from EEF will help as we create the next generation of manufacturers. Apprentices will be able to gain hands-on experience in their chosen speciality, acquiring the skills and techniques that employers need to help create a stronger economy.”
EEF will be hosting employer briefing sessions this summer. To enquire about the events, or for further information please contact the Centre on 0121 707 1414 or email at skills@eef.org.uk
Birmingham City Council has teamed up with the National Apprenticeship Service to create a fund offering grants of up to £3,000 to businesses for every 16-24 year old they take on and train.
City councillors have pledged to create 1,000 apprenticeships in the next 100 days in the battle against youth unemployment in Birmingham.
The local authority has teamed up with the National Apprenticeship Service to create a fund offering grants of up to £3,000 to businesses for every 16-24 year old they take on and train.
Two initiatives, the 1,000 in 100 campaign and a Young Talent for Business scheme, are the first set up since Birmingham City Council pledge to get 3,000 young people off the dole within a year – particularly targeting those who have been without work the longest.
Call 0121 707 1414 for more details.
Emma Willett, from The Petersfield School in Hampshire, is celebrating after receiving the flagship EEF Manufacturing Prize at the prestigious National Science + Engineering Competition.
The talented student was unveiled as the winner at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, held at the ExCeL International Convention Centre in London. She received her award from Phil Brownsord, Region Director of EEF.
Emma was one of 450 innovative young finalists chosen to showcase their work to a world-class panel of judges at the finals of the Competition, and she captured their attention with her saucepan overheating alarm; a device which fits on to any saucepan to provide an audible and visual warning if the pan is overheating and in danger of boiling dry. The aim is to reduce incidents in which this causes household fires.
As well as receiving £500 and a certificate, Emma will also receive a day’s experience at William’s F1 state-of-the-art technology campus.
11 to 18 year olds from across the UK were given the chance to enter the National Science + Engineering Competition by completing a project or activity in any field of science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM).
Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “Emma stood out as an exceptionally bright young talent and is very deserving of this award. We are certain that she and her guests will enjoy their visit to the Williams F1 campus in Oxfordshire to see the facilities first-hand. She will be able to get up close to the technology they use in building the racing cars and will also have the chance to visit the historic Williams Grand Prix Collection which includes over 40 of William’s most historic racing cars.”
Alex Burns, Chief Executive Officer of Williams, said: “A company like Williams will always be dependent on attracting the best talent to stay ahead of the competition. Our employees are passionate about engineering and it is important that we do our bit to encourage young people to study STEM subjects and consider careers in advanced engineering.
“The strength of the National Science and Engineering Competition shows just how much talent we have in the UK and hopefully this prize will further inspire and show first-hand the sort of fascinating careers we offer.”
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “I would like to congratulate Emma on winning this fantastic prize. Engineers improve people’s lives and Emma’s invention is a great example of this.
“It would be great to have more British women engineers like Emma. It concerns me that currently less than one in ten professional engineers in the UK are women, so the Government is working with schools to encourage more girls to study physics and raise the profile of engineering as a lucrative and rewarding career choice for women.”
Join us at this free showcase to find out about Apprenticeships. You will find all the advice you need for your life after school.
IGNITE YOUR PASSION TO LEARN – come and take part in 'Have a Go', our bite size activity sessions. These will really ignite your passion for your future.
Locations and timings:
WOLVERHAMPTON - 4 March 2013, 2.00pm – 8.00pm, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Stan Cullis Stand, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR
DUDLEY - 6 March 2013, 2.00pm – 8.00pm, Brierley Hill Civic Hall, Brierley Hill, DY5 3DH
SANDWELL, 11 March 2013, 2.00pm – 8.00pm, The Public, New Street, West Bromwich, B70 7PG
WALSALL, 14 March, 2.00pm – 8.00pm, Banks’s Stadium, Stadium Suite, Bescot Crescent, Walsall, WS1 4SA
To find out more: Call 08000 321 222 or visit http://www.bctg.org.uk/data-page.asp?PID=162
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