Amanda McLaren, Managing Director of AW Hainsworth describes the 'generational shift' that has taken place in recent years at the Leeds textile firm, the result of a strategy designed to give young people a future in manufacturing that's meaningful, innovative, and full of opportunity.
Employers, training providers and engineering students came together at UTC Leeds in April to learn how T levels and industry placements, which are a key part of the two-year qualification, can create a pathway for apprenticeship recruitment and how employers can adopt best practice to ensure apprentices successfully complete their training. They also heard from a panel of apprentices, who described their experience and what attracted them to careers in manufacturing and engineering.
Manufacturing and engineering employers are unable to reliably attract the skills they need to fill many positions, and this is limiting economic growth and prosperity. That’s why it’s vital to appeal to a broader pool of talent to make manufacturing and engineering more inclusive, argues Poppy Bramford, senior policy manager at national skills charity Enginuity.
Employers in Leeds are starting to see first-hand the benefits of the new engineering and manufacturing two-year T level qualification that is designed to equip students with the right skills and attitude for a career in the industry.
Greater engagement between schools, colleges and local employers is at the heart of the Leeds Manufacturing Festival and its aim of promoting the opportunities that careers in the sector present for future generations...
Government figures show that almost half of all apprentices drop out of their course, and 70% of those report problems with the quality of training they receive, with a poor ‘in company’ experience the main factor in leaving their apprenticeship...