Pictured: Beakbane apprentice Matt Barnett with the
company's new £500,000 Trumpf laser punching machine
Kidderminster-based bellows and machinery protection specialist
Beakbane is extending its apprenticeship programme to ensure it has
the skilled workforce it needs for the future.
Beakbane already has three apprentices on its payroll, has just
recruited two more and has now committed to recruit a further two
in 2012.
The apprentices, who are recruited and trained in conjunction
with the Worcester Group Training Association, undergo a training
programme that can last up to four years. This includes up to one
year of off-site training followed by a period working in the
company while receiving further college training on a day-release
basis.
Beakbane's first two advanced level apprentices, Craig Fox and
Matt Barnett, joined the company in 2008 and are now both entering
the final six months of an HNC in Engineering (Manufacturing) at
Worcester College of Technology. Both moved on to the HNC course
after receiving good City and Guilds grades.
They were joined in 2010 by Gavin Strange, who is now working on
his NVQ level 3 Craft Apprenticeship.
This year's intake, Alistair Handley, a maintenance apprentice,
and Luke Collins, a technical apprentice, started their off-site
year of training in September.
As well as its apprentices, Beakbane is also sponsoring Adam
Chrimes, a member of the design team, on a day-release BTEC course
that could then lead to an HNC.
Roy Legg, Beakbane's Manufacturing Manager, says: "Training
young people is vital to the future of Beakbane and the future of
UK manufacturing as a whole. When you look at the typical age
profile in an engineering company like Beakbane there is a
concentration of skilled staff in the age range from 45 to 50. If
we want to stay successful we need to nurture new
talent."
He adds that the success of the current apprentices had
reinforced the decision to recruit two more - a craft apprentice
and the company's first commercial apprentice in 2012.
It isn't just Beakbane that sees the benefit though, as
apprentice Matt Barnett comments: "It is a great opportunity to
continue to study, as well as get the practical experience."