Apprentice training centre celebrates successful first year

OAS, based at Culham Science Centre near Abingdon, offers high quality training for apprentice engineers and technicians at technology businesses in the Thames Valley.

It has already delivered training to more than 90 learners working for more than 20 local businesses, and the team has ambitious plans for the next 12 months to deliver even greater impact into the local engineering industry.

The first cohort of apprentices are now completing their year one assessments before heading back to their employers to begin on-the-job training, while other learners continue to progress through their vocational programmes at the centre which is managed by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).

Meanwhile, the OAS team is getting ready to welcome the latest group of new apprentices on site later this month to begin their training programme.

OAS operations manager Emma Johnstone said the first year had been a testing but rewarding time with some unexpected challenges.

She said: "I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved despite all the extra challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic. Our learners and trainers adapted to the ‘new normal’ so quickly, and as a result we are only a couple of weeks behind our original schedule in spite of the months of disruption.

“Our recruitment team has worked hard to support our record number of applicants through virtual interviews and assessments, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the successful recruits onto the first steps of their apprenticeship journey.

OAS is a partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the Science and Technology Facilities Council. The two organisations have a history of apprentice training in science and engineering stretching back more than 70 years.

The MTC’s Advanced Engineering apprenticeship helps learners develop the skills industry needs to deliver the technologies of the future in the high value manufacturing sector.

OAS www.oas.ukaea.uk