Training Solutions ::: Case Studies

Early in 2006 Express Engineering, a local precision engineering company based on Kingsway Avenue in the Team Valley Industrial Estate decided to invest in the future of their company by employing four engineering apprentices and contacted TDR Group Limited to assist them with the recruitment and apprenticeship processes.

With the resources available to TDR, they were able to supply Express Engineering with a number of potential candidates for the four available positions within the company. The calibre of candidates supplied were of such a high quality that Mr. Dave Fullen, the Production Manager for Express Engineering had a difficult choice to make in order to choose the apprentices that company wanted. After a long and hard decision and with the consent of Mr Nigel Davison, the Managing Director, a decision to employ five, instead of the original four apprentices was made.

The eventual successful candidates were selected from the one of the TDR School Initiative programmes, which links TDR to a number of local schools, which deliver a Engineering course in either years 10 &11 or years 12 &13. All of the five candidates selected are aged 18, and have completed an engineering qualification whilst staying on at school in the 6th form (years 12 & 13) and have also successfully completed the TDR Student Engineering Apprenticeship program.

Due to the calibre of candidate supplied to Express Engineering, they have this year employed their first female engineering apprentice and have high hopes not just for her but for all the apprentices they have employed.

The Apprentices themselves are all looking forward to an exciting future within the engineering industry and are grateful to Express Engineering for selecting them.

The five successful candidates come from a range of backgrounds: Three of them attended Emmanuel College and studied for an AVCE in Manufacturing Engineering whilst attending South Tyneside College, Hebburn, one day per week to complete their NVQ Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations. Whilst at South Tyneside College the candidates completed four practical units, “Hand fitting Skills”, “Machining Engineering Materials”, “Joining metals by welding” and “Producing sheet metal components and assemblies” as well as three mandatory units and also a further unit “Identifying and selecting engineering materials”.

The other two successful candidates attended Prudhoe Community High School and also studied for an AVCE in Manufacturing Engineering but attended Northumberland College of Arts & Technology, at Ashington to complete their NVQ Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations in “Hand fitting Skills”, “Machining Engineering Materials”, “Wiring and testing electrical circuits” and “Building and testing electronic circuits” as well as also completing their three mandatory units and also the “Identifying and selecting engineering materials” unit.

2. David Baron (Miller UK)

David started with Miller UK, a world leader the manufacture of buckets and attachments for earth moving equipment, in October 2005, and works in their manufacturing site in Cramlington, Northumberland.

Due to David’s hard work and the excellent support he has been given by Miller UK, he has just been awarded the prestigious award of Student of the Year, by the Northumbria Branch of the Welding and Joining Society, in recognition of his skill and enthusiasm.

David started his apprenticeship by studying at Northumberland College and completed his NVQ PEO Level 2 units, Key Skills and Level 2 Technical Qualification before starting to work for Miller UK and starting his Advanced Apprenticeship and NVQ Level 3 in Fabrication & Welding.

Together with his company mentor and closely observed by his TDR Co-ordinator, David has worked very hard to achieve his NVQ qualification within the space of only 16 months.

This is the second year running that an Apprentice from Miller UK has been awarded the Student of the Year award and it is a testament to the time and energy Miller UK put into the training and support of their Apprentices.

3. Success Letter

Dear TDR Training Ltd,
Ref: Sean Bryant

Sean Bryant came to Crowther Engineering Ltd on a one-week work experience through his school. After being with us for just a few days it was brought to my attention by our works supervisors, Bryan Smith and Colin Whitfield, of how enthusiastic Sean was in both Horizontal Boring and Turning.

We at Crowther Engineering have talked on numerous occasions about taking on ‘Apprentices’ but it was the cost of training over the first two years that had frightened us off. We were then put in touch with TDR through Business Link Tyne and Wear and found that with the funding available to us that it then became a viable proposition.

We then offered Sean an ‘Apprenticeship’, of which he accepted. He finished school on the 4th June 2005 and started work with us on Monday 7th June 2005. Within approximately one month he was turning out small Flanges, Dowell Pins etc.

n September 2004 Sean embarked upon a six month training course with TDR, at South Tyneside College, where not only myself but TDR have been very impressed by Sean’s results, were very proud to say all A’s and B’s. He has also taken on a CNC course with TDR of which his results were just as impressive.

For all of his hard work and enthusiasm we rewarded Sean with a 200 Piece Apprentice Engineers Tool Kit, Roller Cabinet and Chest.

Best Regards,
Nick Langstaff
Managing Director
Crowther Engineering Ltd

Key facts about Advanced Apprenticeships:

A job with a real wage
High level qualifications to at least Level 3
Combines working with learning
Can offer an alternative route to further and higher education
Available across a wide range of engineering and science disciplines
A commitment to high quality training

Advanced Apprenticeships are designed to provide young people with all the necessary practical skills and basic understanding in key job areas within engineering and science disciplines.

So, make sure you consider all of the available options before deciding what to do next. An Advanced Apprenticeship might be just the job!

Further Education
Requires attendance on an appropriate course of Further Education normally on day release over 2 years leading to BTEC or City and Guilds Qualifications.

Key Skills
During your apprenticeship you will complete two or more of the following key skills qualifications:

Communication
Application of Number
Information Technology
Improving Own Learning and Performance
Working With Others

Throughout your Advanced Apprenticeship you will develop “key skills” that are important for any job in any industry. This will support your overall development in personal aspects of your performance.

Job Skills
You will be given the opportunity to obtain National Vocational Qualifications at Level 2 and or Level 3 standards. Most of the training will be carried out in the workplace, however some specific skills may be delivered in a training centre environment.

Stages of Recruitment

Completion of Application Form
Initial Assessment - which could include
- Numerical Computation
- Verbal Comprehension
- Spacial Recognition (Engineering only)
- Scientific Comprehension (Science only)
TDR Selection Interview
Employer Selection Interview
Offers of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory GCSE examination results and a medical examination if required.

Eligibility

Ideally be aged between 16 and 19 but there may be opportunities for more mature candidates who have either some relevant previous work experience or a strong commitment to a career in engineering or science
Have achieved, or expect to achieve a minimum of GCSE Grade C in a range of subjects, including English, Maths and Science. Prior learning (A-Levels, BTEC qualifications) will be taken into account and may result in exemptions from certain aspects of the apprenticeship programme
# Have the motivation and commitment to successfully complete qualifications required which in most cases will take at least 3 years

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