Setting sights on closing skills gap (From The Advertiser Series)

Setting sights on closing skills gap

10:59am Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Business

STEVE Grant, managing director of Middlesbrough-based training company TTE, is alarmed that not enough has been done to prevent summer school leavers from turning their backs on education or employment.

TTE recently welcomed 170 trainee engineers onto its courses, but it had the funding and space to take on a further 57.TWO new programmes to boost apprenticeships have been launched by a North-East firm with ambitious plans to become the UK’s only washing machine manufacturer.

Newton Aycliffe-based Ebac Group, which produces water coolers, dehumidifiers and air coolers, is taking on apprentices in a programme which will provide a wider education on how businesses work.

It is also working with neighbouring steel firm Aycliffe Fabrications on a second scheme to increase awareness among young people of what apprenticeships can offer.

The programme, in which the firms team up with Woodham Academy, in Newton Aycliffe, is funded by the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership.

Pamela Petty, managing director of Ebac, left school at 16 and wants others who do not want to follow an academic path after GCSEs to be aware of other options.

Under Ebac’s scheme, two young people initially spend time in each part of the business, before focussing on a specific trade or role.

Mrs Petty said: “We have found that sometimes it is not the best way forward to pigeonhole someone into a particular trade from the outset.

“That is why we have established a new style of programme where we will be taking in apprentices and initially giving them experience in all parts of the business.”