First cohort graduate new North East engineering training course

North East recruitment firm Zenith People have partnered with Northumberland College to produce the first cohort of graduates from their ‘Engineer Your Future’ programme.

The two week programme, supported by Arch, a regional growth funding scheme, aims to excite young people aged between 16 -24, about apprenticeships in engineering and manufacturing.

The intensive programme sees 16 students learn a range of practical skills whilst working towards a certified EAL Level 2 qualification in Industrial Environmental Awareness, delivered by Northumberland College.

The programme offers all participants on-site visits, opportunities to meet and interact with potential employers, and the chance to make influential contacts. Students work towards a final presentation, where they get the opportunity to showcase their work to their peers and high profile guests.

Gary Tonks, 18, Blyth, said: “Zenith People and Northumberland College have given me the confidence to believe that I can get out there and really do this.”

Although Gary had always known he wanted to work in engineering, he had struggled to secure an apprenticeship after the company who had initially offered him a position was forced to close.

Gary added: “Now I’ve completed this course I feel like I might actually get somewhere. Knowing that my application is being sent off to potential employers gives me confidence that I will secure an apprenticeship in the next few months.

Rebecca Hunter, 16, finds that people are often shocked by her career choice, assuming that engineering is a male dominated industry. Not letting this get in the way of achieving her goals, she explains how Engineer Your Future has helped her.

“I have really enjoyed the past two weeks, it has allowed me to build on my confidence. I didn’t really interact with people that much, but now I can talk to pretty much anyone.

“I would definitely recommend the programme, it has been really rewarding. I think other people interested in engineering would do really well on the course as it opens up a lot of doors. The highlight of the week has been the final presentation as it has shown how much we have all grown.”

Rebecca is hoping to secure an apprenticeship, but in the meantime she is going to study engineering, “That just means a whole new class of boys I suppose!”

The hard hitting but unanimous message delivered by the students during their final presentations was that they had believed their options to be limited when leaving school, with many assuming that continuing their education at sixth form was their only route. Many of them stated they had been unaware of apprenticeships, and that this was a viable route into the engineering industry. Rory Eastway, 19, Bedlington, left sixth form after a year when he realised this wasn’t the best route for him to take into his chosen career. Unaware of the options available to him and the possibility of an apprenticeship, Rory didn’t know what to do next - until he was introduced to the Engineer Your Future Programme.

He said, “Zenith People got me on the right track again and I am now on the path to achieving my goal of becoming an apprentice engineer.”

With 90 people applying for only 16 places on the programme, the selection process was tough. Applicants were put through their paces, being tested on literacy and numeracy before facing a one-to-one interview.

Lisa Waller, training operations manager at Zenith People, said: “Engineer Your Future gives young people a better understanding of the real world opportunities available to them within engineering. We have been so impressed with the commitment and high standards of work produced by these young people over past two weeks.

“But the support and guidance doesn’t stop here. Zenith People and Northumberland College will continue to work with graduates of the scheme to ensure they receive the help they need to secure an apprenticeship.”

Lisa Mood, employability and business development manager, Northumberland College, said: “The key success of this programme it that it has increased understanding of the industries amongst these young people and will help to give them an increased chance of sustained employment because of this understanding prior to commencing their Apprenticeship.

“We were all really impressed by the students’ positive attitudes and enthusiasm throughout the programme. It was a pleasure to have them on campus with us at Northumberland College.”

There is currently a severe shortage of skills in the UK for the manufacturing and engineering industries, and in the coming years there is set to be a major shortfall in qualified engineers. As one of the region’s major industry sectors, this is a problem that needs to be addressed.

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