Semta reveals higher level apprenticeship to meet the needs of industry
13 June 2012
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-Apprenticeship Director Bill Twigg speaks at The Future of Apprenticeships conference in London-
Semta, the sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing, has revealed the important role that higher level skills will have in maintaining the engineering and manufacturing sector’s position in the global economy.
Speaking at The Future of Apprenticeships conference in London, Bill Twigg Semta’s Apprenticeship Director, explained that the face of UK manufacturing is changing with much of today’s industry reliant on high levels of innovation and skills. And, with the development of new industries around emerging technologies such as low carbon, industrial biotechnology, nano-technology, digital and advanced materials such as composites, the UK is increasingly specialising in higher-technology manufacturing industries.
Set against the backdrop of this evolving landscape, the need for higher level skills within the engineering and manufacturing industry is clear and over the past ten years, the proportion of employees with higher level qualifications has increased by almost a third (29 per cent).
Bill Twigg said: “In response to this changing demand, Semta has developed a new higher level apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing which will, for the first time, allow companies to ‘grow their own’ graduate talent, as well as providing a viable alternative to university for young people. With a third of high tech manufacturing firms admitting that they have been forced to recruit from outside the UK due to a lack of suitably qualified people resident here, we’re keen to support businesses in developing the right talent here in the UK, boosting the overall economy.”
Last year, Semta and The National Apprenticeship Service launched the Apprentice Ambition, which aims to double the number of higher level apprenticeships from 8,000 to 16,000 by 2016 through a ten point plan. This includes measures to help overcome perceived barriers to take up, particularly among smaller companies that make up the majority of our sectors and that are typically less likely to train apprentices. Semta also launched an Apprenticeship Service to make the process of taking on an apprentice easier for businesses. This includes helping find the right talent, developing a training programme that is right for the individual business, and selecting a quality training provider, organising funding and checking the whole process runs smoothly.
Businesses interested in finding out more about the higher level apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing , and how Semta can support their business should contact customer services on 0845 643 9001 or email customerservices@semta.org.uk www.semta.org.uk
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