Apprenticeships barriers were put under the spotlight following the inaugural EM3 Careers Hub Steering Group meeting

The need to promote the advantages of apprenticeships to parents and students was highlighted at an Apprenticeship and Technical Education Workshop organised by the EM3 Careers Hub.

Among the delegates who focused on barriers to apprenticeship and technical education take-up were representatives from AWE, Activate Learning, Basingstoke ITEC, Hays, Natta Building Company and the Institute of Sales Professionals along with officers from Hampshire and Surrey County Councils.

The lively event was facilitated by Suzanne Dixon, EM3 Careers and Skills Manager, Shirley Ducker, EM3 Enterprise Coordinator, Jamie MacKay, EM3 Skills Strategy Manager, with Andrew Webster, Education Manager, Employability and Skills, from the Careers and Enterprise Company.

Among the issues discussed were employers need and willingness to offer opportunities, access to training and promotion of options along with learners’ understanding of apprenticeship and technical education routes, enthusiasm for occupations with opportunities and existing skills levels being matched.

During the workshop, delegates heard from 21-year-old engineering apprentice Alan Hay from Basingstoke-based Middlesex Aerospace.

He joined the aviation and aerospace component manufacturer five years ago, after learning about the company at an apprenticeship fair held at Basingstoke College of Technology.

Alan, who is a NPI (New Product Introduction) and special projects engineer, spoke of his positive experience working as an apprentice, where he could earn while he learned in a very supportive environment. But he said: “It was completely potluck that I found out about Middlesex Aerospace.”

In fact, it was all down to his mother encouraging Alan to attend the apprenticeship fair. “The awareness of apprenticeships at school wasn’t very good,” explained Alan. “My teachers had told me I should go to college and study engineering, but they didn’t actually tell me about apprenticeships. It was seeing Middlesex Aerospace at the fair that made me think engineering was something I was interested in as a career.”

While studying at BCoT, he became much more aware of apprenticeships, in part thanks to going on work experience and meeting different businesses at apprenticeship evenings.

Michael Clarkson, Product Quality and Apprentice Manager, at Middlesex Aerospace, was full of praise for Alan and keen to promote apprenticeships as an excellent way of bringing both new talent to a business and upskilling young people.

He said far from Alan’s training being an added cost to the business, he saved the company money, by researching and sourcing equipment to replace a manual process of measuring the quality of components.

“As parts are being machined, they are now being checked at the same time, so production doesn’t stop, the parts are moving through the factory quicker, quality is better and we’re achieving on time delivery, giving us increased capacity for more customers," said Michael.

“Alan’s very clever and is a real asset. Now he’s head of two machines worth £500,000 which is great. He’s shown his capabilities and he’s got the knowledge. He’s very interested in engineering and has the ability to focus on getting the job done within time scales.”

Suzanne Dixon, said: “The event gave businesses, training providers and the Enterprise M3 Careers Hub team the opportunity to discuss barriers to apprenticeship and technical education take up.”

"Findings from the session will be shared with the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Department of Education."

Prior to the workshop, the inaugural Enterprise M3 Careers Hub Steering Group meeting was held. Made up of senior representatives from businesses including Hays South East region Managing Director, Barney Ely, who is also an EM3 Director and Chair of the EM3 Skills Advisory Panel, and senior officers from Hampshire and Surrey County Councils, the group agreed its terms of reference, which includes providing advice, constructive challenge and support for the EM3 team.

Members also agreed on the strategic plan, and discussed how the Careers Hub’s performance will be reviewed along with providing recommendations for improvement.