Humberside upskilling company plans expansion following 50-year high in demand

A Humberside training company reports a 50 year high in the demand for skilled workers across the region.

Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) is now planning an investment programme as it faces rising demand from employers across the north for qualified young people and for tuition to upskill the existing workforce.

The company is set announce details of a major expansion which will create more places for learners, with more than 800 applying for the 200 places recently filled.

Iain Elliott, chief executive of HETA, said: “This has been a record-breaking year with unprecedented numbers of applications for apprenticeship and traineeship places.

“That resulted in nearly 200 young men and women commencing on programme, including over 130 apprentices beginning their training in August. The demand from employers is unparalleled and is welcome evidence that they have seen the very real benefit of recruiting apprentices as part of their succession planning strategies.”

Joanne Lawson, deputy chief executive, said: “The investment which we have committed since moving into our Hull site shows that HETA will not sit on our laurels.

“Further investment has brought the addition of high voltage training courses and a process plant which became the only facility of its kind available on the north bank of the Humber when it was shipped from Australia in 2020.

“We expect to be able to announce details soon of another transformational project which will enable us to build our capacity to deliver high-quality vocational learning.”