The first group of students to complete the Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC) have all been given offers of employment with local manufacturing firms.
The 12 students, who started the course in September 2013, were interviewed during the Engineering and Manufacturing Careers event on March 11th. Four manufacturers – Kiartys, RLC Ronaldsway, Swagelok and Triumph Actuation Systems - have now concluded their recruitment process and offers conditional upon satisfactory completion of the course have been made.
The students will join the companies as apprentices this summer and will continue their training for up to 12 more months during which time they will be expected to attain NVQ level 3 and a certified completed apprenticeship.
From September 2014, the number of students taking the foundation course trebled to 36.
The Department's Political Member with responsibility for Manufacturing Alfred Cannan MHK commented:
'This is excellent news for both the students and our local industry and demonstrates the importance of the £1million investment that the Department of Education and Children made in the training centre.
'Access to relevant skills is the most significant challenge facing the manufacturing sector both in the Isle of Man and across Europe. The combined vision and ongoing cooperation of Government and the Engineering and Manufacturing Sector via the Chamber of Commerce has ensured that we are well placed to meet the growing demand for Manx precision engineered components for global blue chip engineering projects.
'A great deal of effort and funding has gone into getting the Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering Course established within what is a modern well-equipped training facility at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre.'
Chris Allen, Chair of the Manufacturing & Technical Industries Committee of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce said:
'This first group of students is testament to the success of the project. Their personal application and individual hard work to get to this point have been rewarded with job offers with some exciting manufacturing businesses on the island. The fact that every single one of them has been successful in securing a job is also a reflection of the high calibre of the students and the quality and relevance of their training.
'As a sector we welcome these new recruits and wish them success in their future careers with us. We look forward to the ongoing success of this course in supporting the growing need for skills within the engineering and manufacturing sector.'
Applications are now open for the 2015 intake in September. Anyone interested in finding out about the Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering should contact the Engineering Skills Champion Adrian Harrison at 07624 498769 or cloud-nine@manx.net or visit
http://www.iomcollege.ac.im/course-finder/further-education/foundation-apprenticeship-in-engineering-manufacturing-technician-skills-
