www.apprentices.co.uk Thu, 05 April 2012 15:08:00 Thu, 05 April 2012 15:08:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2012/april/what's-the-point-of-awards/ EEF has just launched its Future Manufacturing Awards 2012. It’s the biggest and most prestigious manufacturing awards programme in the country and it includes awards that recognise outstanding achievement by apprentices. What’s the point of schemes such as EEF’s Future Manufacturing Awards? It’s pretty clear what the winners get out of it—recognition of their hard work and achievement, brownie points from the boss—and his or her boss—a bit of publicity, local celebrity... But is there anything more substantial to be gained? Stephanie Oswald was national runner-up for the Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award. After her regional heat she found she was much more confident going into the final. Self confidence, then, is one benefit that all entrants can gain. Stephanie makes a good point about the value of apprenticeships: “In a time period where there are consistently talks of job losses and cuts, I believe there will be a way forward for young people like myself to find a way into engineering.” Alan Maguire won the Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award in 2010 and sat on the judging panel for the 2011 award. He believes the awards speak up for the value of apprentices and help to highlight the benefits apprentices bring within manufacturing companies. He’s not averse to a bit of celebrity either. He described winning as “a fantastic feeling” and said the award brought him to the attention of “not only the executives and directors within my company but also the local media”. With so much talk in the media about students getting into university and then getting into debt, you’d think there was no other way to gain an education. Apprenticeships are the answer for many bright, self-motivated school-leavers who want an education together with skills that are much needed for the health of the British economy. It’s worth participating in the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards to demonstrate just what a smart choice apprenticeships are. Find out more about the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2012 and why you should enter /newsevents/blog/2012/april/what's-the-point-of-awards/ /newsevents/blog/2012/april/what's-the-point-of-awards/ Thu, 05 April 2012 15:08:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2012/february/apprentices-honoured-at-eef-future-manufacturing-awards/ After months of searching, the hunt for EEF’s apprentices of the year is over as the winners were announced earlier this week at the National EEF Future Manufacturing Awards. Category sponsors: The outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award  The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award  Exemplar Young Engineering Students With hundreds of applicants and scores of regional finalists competing for the titles, the judges certainly had their work cut-out choosing a winner and even commented that the talent on display was at a level that they had never seen before. Following many sleepless nights, the decisions were finally made and our winners were announced at a gala dinner held in London. With the crème-de-la-crème of the engineering and manufacturing industry watching in anticipation, Michael Williams from Severn Trent Water Ltd secured the accolade of Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice. During his apprenticeship Michael used his own initiative to introduce a number of significant process control developments, resulting in substantial cost savings and improved efficiency and reliability at Severn Trent Water. The judges said Michael demonstrated sheer determination during his apprenticeship and seized every opportunity presented to carve out a career. They commended him for taking full advantage of his college study and achieving a first class honours degree, which ultimately led Michael’s employers to offer him a senior technician role on completion of his apprenticeship. The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award was presented to Samantha Ball from MBDA.   MBDA Director of Manufacturing Bernard Waldron MBE said during her short time with the company, Sam has continuously surpassed expectations in a multitude of roles and activities whilst excelling in her personal and professional development. “Well respected by her peer group and her supervisors, her conscientious and professional approach combined with her pleasant disposition have seen her mature beyond her years’” he said. Sam said in the future she would like to be a well-respected manager who apprentices look up to and turn to for guidance, similar to those who have influenced and inspired her career. The talented 19-year-old revealed; “You can sit back and slip into a comfort zone, or you can stand up and be counted and stick up for the ideas you believe in.” Congratulations also to the highly deserved runners-up: Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice - Alex Simmonds, Messier Services Ltd Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice - Stephanie Oswald, BAE Systems Global Combat Systems In recognition of the impressive achievements and motivation displayed by our finalists, EEF was pleased to recognise Ciaran Parkin (St. Leonard’s RC School - Durham) Scott Ellis (Framewellgate School - Durham) and Vishal Bains (Chellaston Academy – Derbyshire) as Exemplar Young Engineering Students within the Outstanding Achievement by a Young Apprentice category. Ciaran Parkin, St Leonard's RC School Scott Ellis, Framwellgate School Vishal Bains, Chellaston Academy The judges said; “The quality of the young people seen in this category at the regional level was extremely high, making it impossible to clearly identify only one winner at the national level.” Closing the 2011 event, Terry Scuoler, CEO of EEF, said; “The EEF Awards showcase the best of British innovation and excellence. They mark our industry’s importance, competitiveness and ability to adapt and thrive.” And with 2011 now firmly behind us, our attention turns to the future and the next young apprentices to grace the stage at the 2012 EEF Future Manufacturing Awards. On behalf of everyone at EEF, we’d like to extend our thanks to all who entered the awards, making it the best ceremony to date and also all of our sponsors, in particular EAL and Rolls-Royce for supporting our apprenticeship categories. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a winner, entries for the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2012 open in March and you can pre-register your interest today . /newsevents/blog/2012/february/apprentices-honoured-at-eef-future-manufacturing-awards/ /newsevents/blog/2012/february/apprentices-honoured-at-eef-future-manufacturing-awards/ Thu, 02 February 2012 15:40:00 9 /newsevents/blog/2012/january/national-apprentice-week-2012/ When engaged as an EEF apprentice, we aim to train and mould top class manufacturing talent but prepare individuals with the core assets required for the working environment.   We call these attributes 'functional skills' which are aimed to maximise our apprentice's capabilities in the workplace. Designed to empower the apprentice, functional skills target key attributes such as communication and presentation in order to give them the confidence to project themselves professionally within their new working environment.  To achieve this, each year we involve our apprentices in National Apprentice Week which this year takes place during 6-10 February. Designed to raise the profile of apprenticeships amongst employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media, EEF apprentices are tasked to become inspirational mentors for school leavers. Evaluated as part of their apprenticeship curriculum, this National Apprentice Week will see groups of EEF apprentices visit schools around the local region to talk about the benefits of an apprenticeship.   Tasked with creating an audio and visual presentation, our talented apprentices will reveal their own personal experiences; why they chose an apprenticeship, what they have learnt at the EEF Apprentice & Skills Training Centre plus how they envisage their career progressing. Working in tandem to promote the value of an apprenticeship to the next generation of manufacturers, we utilise National Apprentice Week as a mock scenario for our talent to practice their acquired functional skills on a live audience. With last year's apprentices presenting to hundreds of pupils, teachers and head masters, and doing it to an impeccable standard, the pressure's on our latest talent to raise the bar.   Talent such as Nina Cataldo from Sandvik who previously told us that she chose an apprenticeship to do something different. " I didn't want to follow what everyone else my age was doing. I wanted to challenge myself in the working world ." Said Nina. " An apprenticeship was my way to continue learning and bettering my education whilst at the same time earning money and not becoming tied down with student debt. " Nina is just one apprentice who will be sharing her insight with the world and inspiring the next generation of manufacturing apprentices. To read more about her journey, click here . More information about National Apprentice Week can be found here and of course, if you’d like to talk to someone about becoming or hiring an apprentice, our experts are here to help . /newsevents/blog/2012/january/national-apprentice-week-2012/ /newsevents/blog/2012/january/national-apprentice-week-2012/ Fri, 13 January 2012 09:41:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/december/apprentices-compete-for-prestigious-national-award/ Forget the battle for this year’s Christmas number one…the only thing we’re interested in is who will be crowned first and final year apprentices of the year at the annual EEF Future Manufacturing Awards. With two gongs up for grabs, Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice and Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice, next week sees our 12 finalists compete for the trophy and title in London. Representing the Midlands, North East, North West, South East, South West and Wales, our finalists will be put through their paces with a challenging practical test before a rigorous grilling from our expert panel of judges which includes some of the UK’s leading minds in apprenticeships, engineering and manufacturing. EEF Apprentices & Skills Director, Peter Winebloom, had this advice for our young contenders; “Be confident in your ability. After all - you have already won a regional award!  “Use examples and demonstrate tangible evidence of your contribution –that is what will set you apart from the competition. Also keep a cool head by answering the questions as clearly and fully as possible, take deep breaths if necessary.” Peter went on to reveal; “Think about your future. The judges will want to know what you plan to do with the skills acquired through your apprenticeship. And most importantly, remember why you enjoy your work. Passion for your role and UK manufacturing can help you stand out in the judge’s minds.” The winning apprentices will be announced at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards National Finals and Gala Dinner, on January 26 in London. Tickets for the event can be reserved at http://www.eef.org.uk/awards/dinner/default.aspx We will preview all the action from the night but if you’ve got the raw talent and ambition to become an award winning apprentice, speak to our expert advisors . /newsevents/blog/2011/december/apprentices-compete-for-prestigious-national-award/ /newsevents/blog/2011/december/apprentices-compete-for-prestigious-national-award/ Fri, 09 December 2011 16:12:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/december/the-year-of-manufacturing/ At EEF, we’re committed to giving you the facts. Facts and impartial advice that empowers you to make the correct decisions when choosing your future career.   This is something we’re so passionate about, that every yearly quarter our industry experts produce a Manufacturing Outlook survey that paints a true and accurate picture of the current British manufacturing landscape. It’s no secret that the world is still in the midst of an economic crisis but despite this, British manufacturing has remained buoyant over the last twelve months. In fact, the latest results for Q4 2011 have been the poorest to date yet despite this, manufacturing companies have reported outputs to be up by 12% and orders by 8%. Despite the economic gloom, the manufacturing sector has done Britain proud and as the results have shown, we’ve not just survived 2011 but actually prospered. Sectors such as motor vehicles and mechanical equipment have experienced a strong quarter. Looking ahead to the next three months, this pattern looks set to continue with other transport in particular looking strongly positive, on the back of strong demand from civil aviation. Another benefit  is of course apprenticeships where 2011 has marked a real revival in the number of apprentices being employed and professionally trained. A revival that is of course spearheaded by government, which announced in July of this year it would be investing £25m into higher apprenticeships. More recently, this has been followed up by the creation of 19,000 degree-level apprenticeships, £50m in investment to encourage employers to take on apprentices and additional support for SMEs. The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, said; "Investing in skills is central to our drive to boost business and productivity and make the UK more competitive. By expanding the number of degree-level apprenticeships for young people, we will put practical learning on a level footing with academic study." This is of course a belief that the manufacturing industry and EEF also holds, that investing in people and talent will give businesses the impetus and resources to grow.  Tom Lawton, Head of Manufacturing at BDO, added; “Despite this gloom, manufacturing looks set to perform well in relation to other parts of the UK economy in 2012 and we would strongly encourage the Government to increase the momentum of support for the sector in order to help rebalance and boost the economy. It seems clear that manufacturing has to be at the centre of the government’s future growth plans.” We’re determined to make 2012 a landmark year for British manufacturing. If you’d like it to be a landmark year for your future career, get in touch with our team of advisors. /newsevents/blog/2011/december/the-year-of-manufacturing/ /newsevents/blog/2011/december/the-year-of-manufacturing/ Wed, 07 December 2011 13:52:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/november/osborne's-ambition/ Apprenticeships have featured as part of the Chancellor George Osborne’s forecast for the country during the autumn statement. With youth unemployment at a record high and the country still in the thick of an economic low, Osborne’s message was loud and clear that the UK’s success and future lies in apprentices. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Chancellor said; “Youth unemployment has been rising for seven years and is now unacceptably high.” “I want to help any business seeking to employ a young person who is out of work.” But as highlighted further in his speech; “it is made worse by a lack of skills. Too many children are leaving school after eleven years of compulsory education without the basics they need for the world of work.” Addressing the balance, the Government highlighted plans for a new Youth Contract that would seek and secure intern placements in the private sector for every young person unemployed for three months. Osborne revealed; “After nine months, we will help pay for a job or an apprenticeship in a private business.” The coalition Government has made it clear that apprenticeships are at the very top of their agenda and today was a landmark occasion; where words would be turned into actions and actions that would not only benefit the UK’s youth, but help businesses prosper through people. The Chancellor expanded; “if we’re really going to change the economic performance of this country and tackle Britain’s decades long problems with productivity, then we have to transform our school system too – so that children leave school prepared for the world of work.” Words of encouragement that EEF wholeheartedly support – with so much emphasis over recent years being put on students to continue further education without exploring all options. Especially with university fees set to soar next year. As part of this educational reform, Osborne announced that an extra £1.2billion will be invested with £600million being spent to fund 100 additional free schools. The Chancellor added; “These schools will include new Maths Free Schools for 16-18 year olds. This will give our most talented young mathematicians the chance to flourish. Like the new university technical colleges, these Maths Free Schools are exactly what Britain needs to match our competitors – and produce more of the engineering and science graduates so important for our longer term economic success.” A bold statement to end on and if given the opportunity to succeed, the investment will produce an army of talented young people with the potential to grow, develop and excel to become the world’s leading manufacturers. With the Chancellor giving UK businesses the tools, resources and funding to fight their way out of this recession through utilising the raw natural talent of an apprentice, there’s really no better time to intern placements and apprenticeships. And of course, the EEF are here to guide you. /newsevents/blog/2011/november/osborne's-ambition/ /newsevents/blog/2011/november/osborne's-ambition/ Wed, 30 November 2011 14:09:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/november/cool-tech-–-ariel-atom/ If you, like us, are fans of the mechanical madness provided by Top Gear, you’ll be familiar with the show’s famous fastest lap time board. And if you were to look at the current standings, you’d probably expect someone like Ferrari or Aston Martin to lead the way but you’d actually be wrong. It’s not an American muscle car or Japanese drifter either but in fact a sublime example of British engineering produced in Somerset. Ariel is the manufacturer of extreme speed and their Atom 500 V8 holds the current Top Gear record of 1 min 15.1 secs which if you’re not familiar with Top Gear…it’s fast! Like lightening fast! With the capability of reaching 0-60 mph in less than 2.3 seconds, this car features a 500 horsepower 3.0 litre engine but because of its lightweight body, pumps out a staggering 900 bhp/tonne which is enough power to basically tear your face off! So probably best to wear a helmet we guess… This is mechanical mathematics and extreme engineering at its pinnacle and who knows…maybe one day you could be one of the team featured in this video… /newsevents/blog/2011/november/cool-tech-–-ariel-atom/ /newsevents/blog/2011/november/cool-tech-–-ariel-atom/ Fri, 25 November 2011 14:17:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/november/eef-future-manufacturing-awards-–-regional-winners-announced/ The most talented UK apprentices have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the manufacturing sector at the regional celebrations of our EEF Future Manufacturing Awards.   Our judges and sponsors scoured through hundreds of entries for our apprentice award categories, to reach an agreement on who will now represent their region at a national level at the next round of judging in London in December. A new award for 2011 has been introduced, sponsored by Rolls-Royce, which recognises outstanding achievement by a young apprentice in final year of the Key Stage 4 young apprenticeship programme.  In addition, EAL are again sponsoring the apprentice award categories for outstanding achievement by first and final year apprentices. The EEF awards support young people in manufacturing and recognise the excellence that exists amongst many apprentices and the companies that work with them. Our winners have demonstrated that the UK remains one of the world’s most innovative and diverse manufacturing countries, supported by a thriving future generation of outstanding and gifted apprentices. All of us at EEF extend our congratulations to the winners and runners-up, and our thanks to all those who entered this year. Apprentices are an investment in the future of our industry, and each individual brings with them a new generation of innovation and ambition.  In January, we’ll celebrate the best of UK manufacturing by presenting the winning apprentices of the national EEF Future Manufacturing Awards. This black-tie event will be held at Plaisterers' Hall, the largest and one of the finest Livery Halls in London. I look forward to welcoming all our regional winning apprentices at the event, and wish them the very best of luck going into the judging for the national competition in a few weeks’ time.  How to Book The EEF National Gala Dinner will be held at Plaisterers' Hall, Old London Wall, London, on 26 January 2012. For bookings, or to request further information, contact Rachael Moss at rmoss@eef.org.uk 2011 Regional Winners: Midlands – The Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire, November 17 Philip Pendrigh, Apprentice at HS Marston Aerospace Ltd - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Simon Pickering, Apprentice at Rolls-Royce plc - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award   Michael Williams, Apprentice at Severn Trent Water - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Adam Greaves, Apprentice at HS Marston Aerospace Ltd - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award North East - Oulton Hall, Leeds, November 15 Rush Garfitt, Apprentice at Tata Steel Speciality - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Liam Jones, Apprentice at Davy Markham Ltd - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Stephanie Oswald, Apprentice at BAE Systems - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Thomas Turner, Apprentice at BAE Systems - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award North West – The Lowry Hotel, Manchester, November 8 Samantha Ball, Apprentice at MBDA - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Matthew Farrell, Apprentice at Bentley Motors Ltd - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Nadia Reed, Apprentice at BAE Systems - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Thomas Crowe, Apprentice at BAE Systems - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Genny Lewis, Apprentice at BAE Systems - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Charlotte Gough, Apprentice at Bentley Motors Ltd - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award South East – Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey, November 1 Charles Beadle, Apprentice at Marshall Aerospace - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Katherine Morton, Apprentice at Marshall Aerospace - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Joseph Miller, Apprentice at Drallim Industries Ltd - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Jennifer Harvey, Apprentice at MBDA - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award South West – At-Bristol, Bristol, November 3 Alex Simmons, Apprentice at Messier Services Limited - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Kimberley Hill, Apprentice at DE&S - Regional Runner-Up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Brendan Burr, Apprentice at Agusta Westland - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Robert Kelham, Apprentice at Centrax - Regional Runner-Up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Jonathan Ricketts, Apprentice at Cobham PLC - Regional Runner-Up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Wales – The Beaufort Park Hotel, Flintshire, November 2 Dan Briggs, Apprentice at JCB Transmissions - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Oliver Evans, Apprentice at Airbus - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Rhys Johnson, Apprentice at FSG Tool & Die Ltd - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award Cerys Williams, Apprentice at Allevard Springs Ltd - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Second Year Apprentice Award Rhian Perrin, Apprentice at Airbus - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Second Year Apprentice Award Huw Jones, Apprentice at JCB Transmissions - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Second Year Apprentice Award Scott Kihlberg, Apprentice at Dow Corning Ltd - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Third Year Apprentice Award Jamie Hill, Apprentice at UPM Shotton - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Third Year Apprentice Award Adam Waldron, Apprentice at Airbus- Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Third Year Apprentice Award Jonathan Guy, Apprentice at FSG Tools & Die Ltd - Regional Winner, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Richard Wilkins, Apprentice at Airbus - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award Beth Pickering, Apprentice at Airbus - Regional Runner-up, The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award /newsevents/blog/2011/november/eef-future-manufacturing-awards-–-regional-winners-announced/ /newsevents/blog/2011/november/eef-future-manufacturing-awards-–-regional-winners-announced/ Wed, 23 November 2011 13:47:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/october/eef-receives-the-royal-seal-of-approval/ We recently saw the opening of our EEF North headquarters and, to mark the occasion, a very special guest attended to officially cut the ribbon. The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, visited Gateshead to have the grand tour of our new facilities and to also talk to industry leaders in the region Left : Prince Andrew pledges his support to the North East manufacturing industry at EEF’s new regional headquarters Right : The Prince talking to business leaders including Andrew Tuscher, EEF Region Director North, pictured behind Prince Andrew In an interview with The Journal, the Prince backed the need for more young people to enter manufacturing. He said; “ I do think there should be more apprentices and I applaud the decision of this Government to increase the number in the workplace. ” The Prince was told that in the next five or 10 years more than half a million people will have to be trained up to meet the demands of manufacturing. In fact, manufacturing in the North East remains a hugely important contributor to the UK economy and it is estimated that nearly 18% of the North East economy is based on manufacturing, compared to 12% elsewhere. Formed in 1896, EEF has strong roots embedded within Tyneside and the new base for EEF on the Team Valley supports and reflects some of this engineering heritage and tradition.   If you’re interested in exploring the benefits EEF could bring to your business why not drop by our new office. Or if you would like to learn more about apprenticeships, please get in touch . /newsevents/blog/2011/october/eef-receives-the-royal-seal-of-approval/ /newsevents/blog/2011/october/eef-receives-the-royal-seal-of-approval/ Fri, 28 October 2011 16:40:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/october/cool-tech-–-electric-guitar/ You might not believe it…but this is an electric guitar…   No seriously, it is. But if you don’t believe me, then see how the pros transform it. Over the years, the electric guitar manufacturing process has certainly become more technical but with an instrument that simply stirs the soul, it requires a finer hands-on artistic approach. Fender is one of the world’s leading guitar manufacturers with famous users including The Edge, Eric Clapton, John Lennon and the legendary Jimi Hendrix. This classic video shows how Fender made their world famous guitars back in 1959. Although the pace and technology maybe absent from this era, one thing is certainly clear to see. The love, care and attention demonstrated in manufacturing this remarkable item. /newsevents/blog/2011/october/cool-tech-–-electric-guitar/ /newsevents/blog/2011/october/cool-tech-–-electric-guitar/ Thu, 27 October 2011 09:49:00 9 /newsevents/blog/2011/october/heroes-of-modern-uk-manufacturing-competition/ Manufacturing is the engine driving the UK’s economic recovery. Our industry is not about dirty, dusty, dangerous old factories. It’s lean, clean and innovative, producing quality and technology which we are proud to export the world over. At EEF, we think it’s time the images which illustrate manufacturing reflect our contemporary, booming industry more accurately. Through the EEF Photography Competition, professionals, amateurs and young people now have the chance to expose their heroes of modern UK manufacturing, to improve the way people view our sector.  Your hero could be anything from components or products, individual people or teams, or the places and processes which you feel illustrate the evolving landscape of manufacturing in the 21st century. Melissa Garrett, a mechanical engineering apprentice at MBDA, won the young person’s category in 2010. Melissa said she has been blown away by the interest in her win. Her photograph has appeared on the cover of The Manufacturer and has also featured in local newspapers and The Times. Melissa Garrett behind the lens.  “I can’t say enough how much I encourage others to enter if you have an interest in photography, or manufacturing, because it opens up many opportunities,” she said. Melissa said her profile at work has increased, and her mum and dad are so proud they are keeping a scrapbook of press clippings for her to keep as a memento. If you’ve got the eye for a good picture, there’s a chance it could bag you up to £5000 in Canon photography equipment. Click here to find out more and to enter the EEF Photography Competition . But if you need some inspiration to get those creative juices flowing, here’s a gallery of last year’s winning entries: Best photograph by a young photographer                   Today’s Engineering, Tomorrow’s Future - Melissa Garratt Best photograph by an amateur photographer Ingot Mould - Mark Tomlinson  Best photograph by a professional photographer  Aston Martin - Tim Wallace /newsevents/blog/2011/october/heroes-of-modern-uk-manufacturing-competition/ /newsevents/blog/2011/october/heroes-of-modern-uk-manufacturing-competition/ Fri, 14 October 2011 10:19:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/september/apprentices-have-the-x-factor/ All eyes may currently be on the X Factor judges but behind closed doors, judges of the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2011 are in the final process of selecting this year’s regional winners. If you thought Simon Cowell was tough…just wait until you meet the judges for the Apprentice Category - pictured here are Mike Blake (EAL), Bob Millington (NFEC) and Steve Devine (TRW). Although the results are kept under lock and key until the actual regional award ceremonies in November, rumours suggest that this year’s entries are far more competitive than ever before and are giving our panel a real tough job in choosing the winners. The EEF Future Manufacturing Awards highlight the resilience, determination and ingenuity of the UK’s manufacturing community. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase everything that is great about our industry.   Two previous winners show off their awards. The Apprentice and Young Student Categories, sponsored by EAL and Rolls Royce respectively, are for individuals who have done their most to seize the training and development opportunities presented to them during their Apprenticeship programme. Forget the Oscars! They’re not a patch on our award ceremonies. Along with attending a glitzy black tie gala dinner, the awards are a great opportunity for apprentices to showcase and highlight their skills to their employers and colleagues. Because of the recognition, many of our previous winners have in fact quickly progressed within their organisation as illustrated by last year’s winning apprentice, Martin Laffey.   An accolade that is awarded to only the very best in the UK manufacturing industry, be the first to find out who’s won by keeping a close eye on the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards website - www.eef.org.uk/awards . If you’ve also been inspired to follow in Martin’s footsteps, make a note in your diary to enter next year’s awards which open for submission on Thursday, 1 st March 2012. /newsevents/blog/2011/september/apprentices-have-the-x-factor/ /newsevents/blog/2011/september/apprentices-have-the-x-factor/ Fri, 07 October 2011 15:38:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/september/graduation-day/ Last week was one of the proudest moments of the year for us; EEF Apprentice & Skills Graduation Day. An event which sees EEF tutors, employers, friends and family members come together to recognise and celebrate the achievements made by our talented apprentices. Held at Aston University’s Great Hall, Graduation Day isn’t just a proud moment for us, but the many talented individuals who attend. Apprentices received certificates in recognition of their achievements at certain stages of their apprenticeship and for those who had completed their apprenticeship during the last academic year, they were presented with their Apprenticeship framework certificate, but above and beyond that, they leave us with the skills and qualifications that will set them all on the path to great success. The ceremony also celebrated the achievements of certain apprentices who due to their determination and consistently high standard of workmanship shown throughout the year or years , were awarded with a unique accolade. William Griffi, who unfortunately couldn’t be with us on the day, from B Masons was named as our Highest Performing BTEC National Certificate Student and Michael Williams of Severn Trent Water Ltd scooped our Overall Final Year Apprentice Award. Michael is also a contender in the Midland’s round of the EEF Manufacturing Awards final Year Apprentice of the Year Awards. Michael Williams being presented with his award by Peter Winebloom, Director of EEF Apprentices and Skills. Along with honouring those who were coming to the end of their apprenticeship training, a special accolade was awarded to an apprentice who had just started on their journey. Ryan Allsopp from Aero Engine Controls scooped the First Year Endeavour Award.   Ryan Allsopp being presented with his award Nina Cataldo and Harrison Waters, both very talented apprentices from Sandvik Coromant UK, were named as joint winners of EEF’s Overall First Year Apprentice Award and as a result they will have to take it in turns to share the shield in their trophy cabinet!   Nina and Harrison An extremely exclusive award only given to those who have shown extraordinary progress and development during their first year as an EEF apprentice, a very excited Nina said; “I wasn’t expecting it at all, it really was a shock!” “I felt so happy and proud when they announced my name, I finally feel like I’m good at something. My mom and dad were also made up, I think my mom even teared up a little bit!” Whilst our graduates progress on to the next stage of their apprenticeship, we very much look forward to meeting the next generation of manufacturing superstars such as Nina and Harrison. If you’re interested in the opportunities that an apprenticeship can provide, get in touch with us. /newsevents/blog/2011/september/graduation-day/ /newsevents/blog/2011/september/graduation-day/ Mon, 03 October 2011 15:33:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-football-boots/ Cristiano Ronaldo… He does things like this…   He also does things like this… But let’s not talk about that! We’re here to talk about what’s on his feet and what helps him propel a football at 32 metres per second! That’s faster than an F1 car that accelerates at 4.6 metres per second. Nike is the official manufacturer of ‘CR7’, one of the most desirable boots on the market. But have you ever wondered where Christiano and all the other superstars get their boots from? JJB? Can you imagine Rooney popping down to his local SportsDirect before a game? No…neither can I. But thankfully Nike has produced this fantastic video revealing behind the scenes at their world renowned NIKEiD Bootroom. Eat, sleep and wear football! /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-football-boots/ /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-football-boots/ Fri, 30 September 2011 14:05:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-the-north-face/ We have a world exclusive for you! A leaked video behind the scenes of The North Face’s testing lab!   Well not quite… But when it comes to the engineering and practicality of clothing, no one takes it more seriously than the TNF guys. After all, their garments are designed to save the lives of those mad people who venture up tall mountains and watch penguins in Antarctica…which is pretty important. Some serious material science goes into developing these jackets, with self-penned buzz words including; Gore-Tex, Hyvent, Polartec, Primaloft, Recco System and VaporWick. Serious stuff… But naturally these products have to work and when it comes to testing, it’s slightly more vigorous than our so-called world exclusive. Who knows…one day it might be you on the piste… /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-the-north-face/ /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-the-north-face/ Fri, 16 September 2011 16:55:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-formula-1/ This is the first in a series of posts we're putting up, looking at some of the exciting and interesting ways in which manufacturing and engineering techniques are used. At some stage, most of the people we write about will have done an apprenticeship. Post 1: Formula 1 We’ve all dreamt about being an F1 driver. The speed, the glamour…Monaco. Need I say more? But dreams are dreams and in reality, we’ll most likely leave the racing to the Lewis Hamilton’s of the world but that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved. After all, a racing driver is only as good as the team around him and the car they make for winning. Creating an F1 car is technical physics and a science that the manufacturers invest millions of pounds into. The most important part is the F1 car’s body that essentially keeps it on the road at the super speeds it’s capable of doing. In fact, an F1 car is so aerodynamically efficient…it’s possible for it to run along a road whilst upside-down! Want to know how the ‘mad-manufacturers’ do it? Here’s Martin Brundle to explain. And if you fancy constructing an F1 car of your own…here’s what it takes. Manufacturing poetry in motion. /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-formula-1/ /newsevents/blog/2011/september/cool-tech-formula-1/ Thu, 01 September 2011 10:14:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/august/gcse-special/ Following last week’s A-level results, today saw the big announcement for GCSE students with the great news being that the pass rate has gone up for the 23rd year running. Even better news is that nearly one in four (23.2%) of entries scored at least an A grade this year, up from 22.6% in 2010, and nearly seven in 10 entries (69.8%) were awarded a C or above. These are of course marvellous achievements and were publically praised by Nick Gibb, Minister of State for School, who produced this YouTube video to celebrate the occasion. With the continual rise in achievement, there will no doubt be a lot of happy youngsters up and down the country today, contemplating the career choices that lie ahead of them. As Nick says in his video; ‘gaining GCSE passes is a tremendous achievement and is key to moving on to the next stage.’ And with Nick also revealing a huge uptake in math and single sciences, we’re hoping for a generation of manufacturing magicians. The results speak for themselves with chemistry and physics both up over 16% and the most popular subject by far, information and communications technology, increased by 18.8%.  Jim Sinclair, director of the JCQ summed things up by saying: "The rise of biology, physics and chemistry is welcome news as is the increased performance in maths and English.” English, maths and science are absolute core subjects and the foundations for building a successful future. In manufacturing, these areas are particularly important and no doubt all these talented youngsters will be wondering how they can further what they’ve already achieved. The natural course of action for many will be full-time college but we, and many others, recommend exploring every avenue, one of which is apprenticeships. An apprenticeship offers the best of both worlds – education and qualifications whilst learning, and earning, on the job. Out of the classroom and into the workplace, an apprenticeship is the start of a fantastic journey that sees many sponsored by their employer to not only complete college, but also higher education. So if your GCSE results were better than expected but you’re still not sure A-Levels are for you or perhaps your grades weren’t quite what you’d been hoping for and you’d like to find out what your options are, contact us now to learn more about apprenticeships.  We are here to help . /newsevents/blog/2011/august/gcse-special/ /newsevents/blog/2011/august/gcse-special/ Thu, 25 August 2011 16:59:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/august/a-level-results-special/ Last Thursday saw the lives of thousands dictated by the announcement of A-results. With the media keen to highlight how many were or weren’t going to university, the scramble for places this year seemed more cut-throat than ever with many youngsters being turned away by their first, second and third choice university. Although the majority have secured the university and degree that they wanted, an estimated 282,000 applicants have not and are now in the ‘clearing’ process. Unfortunately for those, Ucas believes that there is only 47,000 spare places available meaning that for every available university degree, there are five students competing for it! Perhaps this year is busier than most with many students hoping to beat the increased tuition fees that come into action next year. Regardless, every student can expect to leave university with not only a degree, but also a large amount of debt. As we watch all these youngsters eagerly or nervously open their results, I wonder how many graduates are asking themselves if they could rewind time to that moment, would they make the same decisions and how many of them believe that having a degree got them to where they are today. Education is of course extremely important but most importantly is the manner in which it’s delivered and achieved. Like those 282,000 applicants who are now scrambling around for a university place, we’re naturally led to believe that going to university is the only option. What I urge everyone to do before taking the plunge is investigate all the available options. Opportunities such as apprenticeships offer an education and qualification but exchanges the classroom for the workshop and the debt for a wage, with many apprentices going on to complete degrees, often sponsored by their employer. And with that level of debt set to soar next year, an apprenticeship has never looked more appealing. Apprenticeships are a viable and credible alternative to university and there are employers out there looking to recruit apprentices now! To learn more about the opportunities, get in touch . /newsevents/blog/2011/august/a-level-results-special/ /newsevents/blog/2011/august/a-level-results-special/ Mon, 22 August 2011 14:51:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/august/london-apprentice-skills-event/ Growing the economy has never been more important than in these challenging times. To support this growth, the government recently announced support to help provide an additional 50,000 apprenticeship places, which means there has never been a better time to bring apprentices into your workforce. We recently hosted a joint event with the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network (AAN) in our Broadway House offices in London to help provide attendees with practical advice and examples of how apprenticeships could help their business. Attendees heard from Skills Minister, John Hayes MP (below) who has overall cabinet responsibility for apprenticeship policy as he talked about the government’s plans for its apprentice support. Also featured was an inspiring presentation from Bentley Motors’ Christine Gaskell(video below), a Member of the Board for Personnel who highlighted Bentley’s very successful apprenticeship story and the benefits the company enjoys as a result.   Attendees also had the opportunity to meet and network with other companies and representatives from local colleges as well as the opportunity to learn first-hand from EEF Apprentices and Skills representatives and other industry experts such as Sir Roy Gardner, Chairman of the AAN (video below) about some of the practical implications of taking on apprentices. To download a copy of the presentations from this event and other useful handouts,  click here. /newsevents/blog/2011/august/london-apprentice-skills-event/ /newsevents/blog/2011/august/london-apprentice-skills-event/ Fri, 19 August 2011 09:51:00 9 /newsevents/blog/2011/august/learning-manufacturing-skills-in-a-lake/ Learning and development skills are as important as anything apprentices learn on the shop floor or in the classroom. This is why, as part of their apprenticeship, in partnership with their employer, we added a skills challenge in the Lake District to this group’s training programme.   As many employers know, teamwork and communication are essential skills in any business. In this, our latest outbound event, the employer was very keen to make the learning of these skills as fun and accessible as possible by presenting apprentices with a series of tasks which challenged not only their thinking but would also help to equip them with life-long leadership and planning skills.   And there is no doubt that the apprentices see the value in it too. By taking on a wide range of challenges such as abseiling, canoeing raft-building and orienteering, the apprentices learned practical, useful skills as well a real sense of achievement which plays a big part in developing confidence and self-esteem. Watch Jack explain what he’s learnt and how the skills he has picked up will provide a real benefit when he gets back to work. Hear from Peter Winebloom, Director of EEF Apprentice and Skills service about the benefits of adding an event like this to your Apprentice development programme. Check out some of what this year’s apprentices got up to back in June. We’ll also be adding some thoughts from some of the apprentices themselves over on our apprentice section. And, as always, if you want to find out more, get in touch! /newsevents/blog/2011/august/learning-manufacturing-skills-in-a-lake/ /newsevents/blog/2011/august/learning-manufacturing-skills-in-a-lake/ Wed, 10 August 2011 10:09:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/august/north-east-skills-summit-a-huge-success/ The EEF North East Skills Summit brought together manufacturers, government, media and the business support community to influence the skills agenda for UK manufacturing. It was a challenge to the manufacturing community to shape the future of the skills system by grasping the opportunities now presented and as the manufacturing sector recovers from recession, it’s time for a little spring cleaning on skills and training. Recruiting the right skills, at the right level, will equip manufacturers with the capability to deliver and grow. Government investment in apprentices provides manufacturers with a fantastic opportunity to secure the effective practical training our sector needs for the future. Recent university fee increases could also attract more young talent to ‘earn while they learn’ through apprenticeships.   Millions of pounds in government spend is a great start to encourage more apprenticeships in manufacturing. But we need to use it, before we lose it. If we don’t, we can be sure the funding will get mopped up by other sectors. It’s up to the sector and individual employers to ensure we offer an increasing number of apprenticeships, capturing the best and brightest talent. Apprentices are an investment in the future of our industry, and each individual brings with them a new generation of innovation and ambition. Terry Scuoler, EEF CEO said skills have been on the agenda for some time, but as we come out of recovery, we’re seeing a greater demand for creating new jobs and nurturing talent at all levels. “I am puzzled by something so relatively straightforward – that providing skills to a group of people who want them is not happening or does not appear to be working,” he said. “The solution is very much in our hands, and we will keep talking to government to make sure it is moving in the right direction.” We must also continue developing our existing workforce, recognising the marriage of funding expected from the state, the employer and the individual. Employers who inject more money and attention into the up-skilling or re-skilling of existing workers will reap the benefits. Better skilled employees are more productive, ensuring companies become more competitive and attractive to potential customers and new overseas markets.  As you will see, we managed to really stimulate the debate on shaping a demand-led skills system at a critical time for us to influence government policy on behalf of our members. To read more about this story and other manufacturing-related articles, read our online membership magazine - Insights . We regularly run a wide range of events and seminars across the country, covering a broad range of business-related topics. Download our events calendar or visit our events page  for more information. /newsevents/blog/2011/august/north-east-skills-summit-a-huge-success/ /newsevents/blog/2011/august/north-east-skills-summit-a-huge-success/ Wed, 10 August 2011 08:27:00 9 /newsevents/blog/2011/july/cool-tech-special-space-shuttle-atlantis/ It would be wrong to let this week pass without mentioning the retirement of one of mankind's greatest manufacturing feats - the NASA Space Shuttle.   This Thursday, Space Shuttle Atlantis will land for the final time, marking the end of NASA's Space Shuttle program which first took flight in April 1981. A design and piece of equipment that has not only lasted the test of time at 30 years old but also the extreme pressures of space travel, the NASA Space Shuttle is quite possibly the greatest machine ever made. To see the full extent of manufacturing that goes into getting the Shuttle into orbit and then safely back down to earth, checkout these series of videos produced by NASA and narrated by the legendary William Shatner. Take it away Bill… Although this does mark the end to NASA's Space Shuttle, it also marks the beginning of a new era in space travel and one that will challenge the next generation of engineers, designers and manufacturers. With commercial travel outlined as the final frontier's future, a new space race is emerging and one currently led by our very own Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. But until we see the first space tourists circling the globe, let's honour the many men and women who manufactured our very first steps to the stars. Godspeed Atlantis… /newsevents/blog/2011/july/cool-tech-special-space-shuttle-atlantis/ /newsevents/blog/2011/july/cool-tech-special-space-shuttle-atlantis/ Thu, 28 July 2011 11:59:00 21 /newsevents/blog/2011/july/manufacturing-services/ Last Sunday saw UK manufacturing go head-to-head against the services sector in a showdown of epic proportions. The playing field was Lord Sugar's boardroom in the grand final of The Apprentice which saw Tom Pellereau, representing UK manufacturing, take on Helen Milligan who was fronting a services proposal. For Lord Sugar, the two business plans vying for the entrepreneur's £250,000 were poles apart. Tom, AKA - The Mad Professor, campaigned for the production of an office chair that would resolve back strain whilst Helen suggested a national concierge service which would be rolled out regionally. It's fair to say that both business proposals had gaping holes in them but in the end, and despite being the series' underdog, Tom brought it home for UK manufacturing with Lord Sugar choosing The Mad Professor as his business partner. Showbiz antics aside, Lord Sugar wasn't just choosing an 'Apprentice' but essentially a business to invest in and this demonstrates the appeal and level of interest that UK manufacturing commands. As a vibrant and exciting sector where new innovative products are commissioned on a daily basis, there's no better time to get involved. And you don't get a much bigger endorsement than that of Lord Sugar who admitted on the after show You're Hired; 'I'm a product man at heart.'   UK Manufacturing 1 - Services 0 /newsevents/blog/2011/july/manufacturing-services/ /newsevents/blog/2011/july/manufacturing-services/ Tue, 26 July 2011 15:24:00