Twelve fresh-faced youngsters have enrolled on an engineering pre-apprenticeship scheme in Birmingham – and the course will give the students hands-on experience and understanding of mechanical and electrical engineering at a time when skills development is at a premium.
The first-of-its-kind mentorship programme began life in 2016, aiming to inspire 14-16 year-old GCSE students and give them a core understanding of engineering at adi’s custom-built workshops.
The course, which lasts two years, takes up roughly 10% of the students’ curriculum time and rewards achieving youngsters with an EAL accredited qualification and the prospect of moving on to adi’s more senior apprenticeship programme.
Group strategic account director James Sopwith spoke of the challenges and rewards of the scheme amidst the pandemic: “During these difficult times, it is fantastic to be able to continue our pre-apprenticeship, despite the restrictions we need to apply when the students are with us.
“It is a great credit to the mutual relationship we have with North Bromsgrove High School that has allowed us to carry on in 2020/21, when so many other schemes have had to halt. This cohort brings the number of students who have benefited from our two year course to 60, which again is a big milestone for us.”
Discussing apprenticeships at a time when skills development is making national headlines, adi Group founder and CEO, Alan Lusty said: “Our philosophy really has been to keep giving these youngsters hope, encouragement and a grounding in the exciting work available in engineering, despite these uncertain times.
“We simply couldn’t cut the supply chain, not when the industry still has a lot of work to do to make up for its well-publicised shortfall in STEM careers. With each new year of student intake, I’m revitalised and reminded of how I began my career as an apprentice, and I’m excited to see it take shape with the generation of today. I look forward to seeing their progress.”
The adi Group recently celebrated the graduation of last year’s crop of budding engineers from its pre-apprenticeship programme, with four distinctions and eight merits among the high-flying group.
ADI Group www.adiltd.co.uk/careers
