City Leader Visits Academy of Engineering

RECORD numbers of young apprentices are being trained for skilled engineering jobs – after a local company spotted a gap in the market.

The newly re-branded Brinsworth Academy of Engineering in Rotherham has sourced a record number of vacancies for apprentices in thelast year. This was despite the harsh economic climate – which makes it especially difficult for young people to find jobs. And Sheffield City Council Leader, Councillor Julie Dore gave the thumbs up to the company following a visit last week

The Council is currently delivering its own Sheffield 100 Apprentices programme. A key promise of the Labour administration when it took control last year was to get more young people into training and employment. The authority is also leading the way nationally after securing one of only a handful of University Technical Colleges (UTC) for the city last year.

Cllr Dore visited the engineering academy to highlight the work that the academy is doing to assist in getting young apprentices into sustainable employment. The Academy has sourced a record number of vacancies in a difficult climate last year. She was also was keen to see how the academy can link to new projects such as the University Technical College and also the Advanced Manufacturing Institute.

She said: “It is imperative that we train apprentices for jobs that are out there. There is no point in training the next generation for jobs which are either already oversubscribed or dwindling.

Pictured: Paul Reeves, Cllr Julie Dore, Cllr Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Mick Crossley

“That is why I was so impressed by what I saw at Brinsworth Academy of Engineering. They are successfully matching their trainees with jobs which are desperately undersubscribed. We need to be working with business and industry and training future generations for the jobs which are needed. With the right skills we can match people with the right jobs.”

Brinsworth Academy of Engineering generated 111 vacancies for young people in 2011 and has over 250 learners currently training to become skilled engineers. Business Development Director Paul Reeves said “We pride ourselves on the relationships we have built with employers over the years to enable young people to gain valuable careers in engineering. We are delighted that the Leader has taken time out of her busy schedule to come and see firsthand the work that we are doing to develop new talent for employers across the City Region”

Cllr Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Jobs and Growth, who also joined the Leader on her visit added "It was a key pledge for us when we came to power to create a number of apprentices. Giving young people the right tools to do the jobs which are out there is vital to boosting not only their careers but also the city’s economy. Businesses will flourish only if they have employees who have the right skills and training in the first place.”

Brinsworth Academy of Engineering is hosting a breakfast event as part on National Apprenticeship Week on the 9th February 2012, where attendees will be briefed on the recently announced apprenticeship subsidy support for employers along with an opportunity to have a tour of the academy.

To register your interest email carly.reynolds@brinsworthtraining.co.uk .