Gestamp Tallent appoints In-Comm for apprenticeship boost

Cannock-based Gestamp Tallent, which has recently opened a second factory in Four Ashes in Wolverhampton, currently has 11 apprentices at the Aldridge firm’s academy on the mechatronics and toolmaking courses.

It is part of the company’s desire to bridge the skills gap and address an ageing workforce, with the plan to recruit another 30 apprentices over the next three years as it looks to maximise increases in volumes with all the major car manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

“We want to work with a partner that understands where we are going as a business and can deliver the level of quality training that will produce engineers that have an immediate impact within the business,” explained Julian Nicholas, training controller at Gestamp Tallent.

“After a competitive tender that involved more than 10 providers we decided to appoint In-Comm to work with all of our apprentices. This involves helping us recruit them, shaping the training and then ensuring they are learning on equipment that is relevant to them.”

He continued: “All of our apprentices spend 18 months full-time at the academy and then they join us, with one-day college release per week. This is the type of intensive development that you saw in the late 70s and one we are very much in favour of. Yes, it’s a longer-term vision, but one that will reap dividends over the next few years.”

In-Comm – recently awarded ‘Outstanding’ rating by Ofsted – has worked with Gestamp Tallent for over a decade, providing upskilling courses and consultancy on compliance and business improvement techniques.

The apprenticeship contract is one of a number of recent wins this year for the firm, which has also seen it play an instrumental role in the launch of the Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology in Bridgnorth.

This £4m world class hub means it now operates three academies with further satellite workshops opening through its partnership with the Engineering Technology Group.

In-Comm www.in-comm.co.uk