Engineering and fabrication specialist WEC Group has announced a major apprenticeship recruitment drive at its newly built Engineering & Welding Academy in Blackburn, Lancashire, as well as its Knowsley, Rotherham, Coventry, and Sherburn-In-Elmet based divisions.
Already an established apprenticeship provider (WEC was awarded the Large Employer of the Year title at the National Apprenticeships awards in 2020), the new initiative will see the company more than double its annual intake of apprentices for 2021, with a total of 53 new apprentice vacancies currently advertised for a September intake.
The announcement comes on the back of a very strong business performance for the group for Q1 of 2021, with manufacturing output currently much higher than pre-COVID levels and the company recording a record ever month in March 2021.
WEC Group’s managing director and founder Steve Hartley said: “Apprentices are the lifeblood of any forward-thinking business. Since starting our apprenticeship scheme in 2006, WEC Group has grown from 200 employees to over 900, creating a loyal workforce by harnessing fresh talent and skills.
“Our apprenticeship scheme has been extremely successful over the years, and this is why we’ve decided to forge ahead with our plans to invest around £3m to build a brand-new Training Academy in Blackburn, despite the challenging trading condition over the past year. This will give us the means to create more apprenticeship positions every year and allow us to continue growing.”
WEC Group’s new 25,000ft² state-of-the-art Academy is currently under construction at Walker Park Industrial Estate, adjacent to the company’s specialist Machining division. Building work started in August 2020 and current WEC apprentices fabricated the structural steel work for the building which will be opening its doors in September 2021.
With two classrooms, 33 welding bays, and the latest metalworking equipment, the new facilities will also enable WEC Group to partner with local schools, colleges and companies.
Check out this timelapse video.
As a member of The AWFTE (Association of Welding & Fabrication Training & Education) and a TWI (The Welding Institute) certified welder training centre, the new WEC Academy will also offer other engineering employers the opportunity to upskill their existing staff, creating a significant boost to skills levels and the local job market.
WEC Group www.wec-group.com
