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More apprentices needed say region’s business leaders

Business leaders in the North East are at the forefront of a campaign to increase the number of firms taking in apprentices and graduates, in bid to tackle the regiosn’ skills gaps in engineering, science and manufacturing.

Sector skills council Semta is set to host a number if events and initiatives to provide adivce, help and funding in a bid to get more young people into the workplace. At the events, former apprentices who have progressed to management positions will tell their stories, and current apprentices who are benefiting from training schemes.

Research shows that 8,500 skilled workers are due to retire in the next 6 years, and a further 15,000 employees need to improve their skills to ensure the North East can perform as a world-class region.

John Evans, facility manager at the Caterpillar site in Stockton, will be among those promoting
the Semta initiatives. He commented: “Like many organisations here in the North East, Caterpillar hasfelt the effect of the economic downturn.

“However, we now see an ideal opportunity to start to plan for growth in the future and in recruiting new apprentices, we are investing today to make sure we have the right skills in place to fulfil future demand for our products.”

Another contributor will be Richard Ebrahim, Nissan’s engineering director who began his career as an apprentice at Avery Dennison in Cramlington, Northumberland. He joined Nissan’s Washington plant as a project engineer before progressing to his current position.

The two January seminars - Maximising Your Business Growth in the North East Region - will be held at the Skills Academy for Manufacturing Innovation in Sunderland on January 17, and the Excel Centre in Newton Aycliffe on January 19.

Both events start at 10am and are scheduled to run for two hours. To register your attendance or for events information, please contact Jordan

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .