Engineering and high technology apprentices receive boost

A new centre is being set up to help solve the skills shortage in advanced technology and the engineering industry.

Oxford Advanced Skills will provide employers in Oxfordshire’s high tech sector with ‘work-ready’ trainees, apprentice engineers and lab technicians by giving apprentices skills and self-discipline through training in the workplace. The centre will collaborate closely with local businesses, allowing them to direct input into the qualification to make sure the training provides the apprentices that local businesses need. As a not-for-profit enterprise, all funds will be invested to deliver training and to ensure quality.

The new centre is a joint venture between the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

JTL has been appointed to manage the centre commencing from September 2016.

David Martin, UKAEA’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “With the support of high tech sector companies in the area, Oxford Advanced Skills will help resolve the critical skills shortages we are currently experiencing. This venture highlights how seriously we take the need for exceptional quality young people making it into the workforce in this area.

“JTL has huge experience in providing work-based learning across England and Wales, with over 6,000 apprentices currently working towards qualifications with them across the building services engineering sector.”

Jon Graham, JTL’s Chief Executive, said apprentices in the Oxford area were in for “exciting times”.

He commented: “We have been working in Oxfordshire for many years but decided recently that in order to be able to provide the quality of training that young people deserved we needed to launch our own training facilities, which we have now achieved with our premises at Culham.

“Through the work we do there and what UKAEA have seen while on site, it became obvious that there was an opportunity to expand our remit and join with UKAEA to develop this new facility, targeting exceptional young people who are needed by high technology companies operating in Oxford and the Thames Valley.”

The post Engineering and high technology apprentices receive boost appeared first on UK Construction Online.