Engineering, there are few careers that have a better opportunity to define and sustain the way that we live today. It’s a highly skilled, highly rewarded career and yet there’s still a sense that engineering is one of the least glamorous professions.
Did you know that annually there’s a shortage of 20,000 engineers in the West Midlands region alone?
At Cube it is really important to us to support those organisations that are trying to reenergise the next generation into engineering. It’s a key part of future proofing our business.
So, in honour of National Apprentice Week 2020, we caught up with Next Gen Makers, who were set up to break the myths about engineering apprenticeships and be the link between colleges and the engineering and manufacturing companies. Research has shown that typically it’s only the big players like Land Rover Jaguar, the well-known and respected brands that find it easy to fill their apprentice schemes.
Smaller businesses like ours are struggling to recruit and train apprentices as they either aren’t aware that these schemes exit, aren’t sure how to promote the opportunities that they have or sometimes can’t see the benefit of being part of the apprenticeship programme.
Next Gen Makers have been established to support smaller businesses to recruit and benefit from the support of apprentices, raise awareness of engineering opportunities outside the big players and connect students with more local businesses.
Adam Tipper, Next Gen Makers comments “The significant Engineering skills shortage in the region is much talked about. Outdated perceptions, stigma and a lack of awareness are significantly contributing to this. Any manufacturer that wants to be able to attract a future skilled workforce needs to address this and Next Gen Makers via our High School and College platform provides them with the opportunity to do so.
As well as taking steps to engage with the best young engineering talent for their own Apprenticeships, the impact that companies like Cube Precision Engineering can have on positively influencing more young people to come into local industry should never be underestimated.
Aspiring young engineers do exist, they just need to be made aware that companies like Cube Precision do exist and have attractive career opportunities. By highlighting the things that Cube Precision make and where these products end up, we can not only inform but inspire the next generation to want to work in local industry”.
Neil Clifton, MD Cube Precision Engineering comments “It’s a fact that we’re not getting enough young people into engineering. For Cube, getting apprentices on board is a key part of our strategy and something we’re really passionate about. Teaming up with Next Gen Makers can only enhance our process and make more people aware of what we do as a business and that starting and engineering apprenticeship can be really exciting and rewarding. I’m really looking forward to seeing how our partnership develops.”
Want to explore the apprenticeship opportunities available within Cube Precision Engineering? We’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to be part of a thriving engineering team then make sure you keep up to date with our job opportunities, posted in our news section and follow us on LinkedIn
5th February 2020