Member Article

Houghton-le-Spring SME manufacturer calls for multi-pronged approach to apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a useful way for small firms to retain top talent and secure the future of their business. SMEs have benefited from taking on apprentices of all ages, not just 16-18 year-olds who attract the majority of Government funding for apprenticeships.

Wearside storage vessel maker Wessington Cryogenics, itself an SME, is a firm advocate of adult apprenticeships and nine of its 15 apprentices are over the age of 24. The Houghton-le-Spring-based firm has been campaigning for the retention of funding for adult apprenticeships and has teamed up with Gateshead College to develop a bespoke apprenticeship in Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) – a move which aims to fast-track the development of staff aged 25 and over.

The first to graduate from the scheme is Simon Bowman, who recently completed the PEO programme and an in-house traineeship programme and is now qualified as a time-served welder and fabricator.

The 25 year-old from Prudhoe joined Wessington seven years ago as an assistant technician but found he didn’t have the skills needed to carry out tasks other than basic assembly work.

He said: “I was a bit disillusioned with things because I felt my career wasn’t moving forward and I’d become stuck in a rut. Now I’ve got all of the necessary codes and qualifications to work on a range of welding and fabrication jobs.

“My job is much more interesting now, to be honest, and my training has led to a promotion and a good pay rise.”

Simon is not the only beneficiary of the scheme. Five other workers (including two in their 50s) are currently enrolled on the apprenticeship, which equips them with essential knowledge of fabrication, welding and machining techniques and health and safety practices.

The scheme follows a successful campaign by Wessington, which makes low-temperature storage vessels for the oil, gas and bio-medical sectors, to lobby for more Government funding to upskill learners over 24. Wessington’s director, Gill Southern, sits on the board of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and actively drummed up support for the campaign. Thanks to the efforts of Gill and other employers, the Government has pledged to maintain funding for the over-24s.

She said: “The manufacturing skills gap won’t be bridged purely by apprenticeships for the under-25s, although this is still important. What we need is a blended approach that includes more apprenticeships for people over 24. We lobbied extensively for the retention of funding for this age group and I’m glad to say that the Government has listened to us. Skills development for the over-24s is still available for companies that need it.

“Apprentices of all ages can add value to a business – particularly small businesses – and this is illustrated by our partnership with Gateshead College. The PEO apprenticeship allows a lost generation of twenty-somethings who were never offered apprenticeships to become time-served tradesmen or women. It also means that older workers who already have a trade – in joinery, for example – can gain transferable skills that enable them to carry out high-quality welding and fabrication work within our business.”

The Wessington staff on the PEO apprenticeship spend one day a week at the college’s Team Valley-based Skills Academy for Automotive, Engineering, Manufacturing and Logistics, which has a dedicated welding workshop, spray booths and specialist diagnostic and testing equipment.

Mick Brophy, managing director of business, innovation and development at Gateshead College, said: “The academy is an important part of the vocational training infrastructure of the North East. It’s important that students of all ages have access to this type of facility, particularly in the manufacturing and engineering industries which suffer from major skills shortages.

“It’s great that funding for adult apprenticeships has been retained by the Government. Gateshead College offers the full spectrum of apprenticeships for people of all ages, which is important for companies as they seek to remain competitive by upskilling and retaining their top talent.”

For further information on Gateshead College apprenticeships, call 0191 490 4636, e-mail apprenticeships@gateshead.ac.uk or visit www.gateshead.ac.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gateshead College .