Female engineers lead the way on apprenticeship programme

Female engineers lead the way on apprenticeship programme

Two female engineers are amongst a group of students at Tameside College who have secured roles within the industry.

Skye Kew-Whatmough and Alana Rowbotham have both secured engineering apprenticeships, after taking part in the pre-apprenticeship programme with the college.

Skye now works for Viva Fire Protection and is training to become a design engineer and Alana is employed by Swietelsky-Babcock Rail as a trainee maintenance engineer.

The pre-apprenticeship programme at Tameside College helps students to prepare for the workplace, with employability forming a key part of the qualification. Students are taught how to prepare a CV, interview techniques, what they can expect in the workplace and shown the range of opportunities available to them.

Alongside Skye and Alana, 23 other students have secured roles with the Hyde Group of companies, Louvolite, Whitecroft Lighting, Swietelsky-Babcock and several construction firms.

Demand from the industry to fill skills gaps have grown in recent years, with 71% of employers reporting a lack of necessary employees, according to The Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Pamela Dodd, human resources director for Hyde Group, said: “I like to recruit from the pre-apprenticeship programme because I believe it really supports students from the transition from full time education into the workplace. The students gain an appreciation of the standards and health and safety requirements of an engineering facility. The programme also supports them with choosing which area they want to work within, meaning they are dedicated recruits from the offset.”

Simon Hesbrook, engineering apprenticeship team leader at Tameside College, said: “The pre-apprenticeship programme is a proven model of success converting young people into quality apprentices and I am very proud to be involved with this year after year. There are some fantastic opportunities available for students in engineering and the employers are phenomenal. Well done to those who have secured roles and apprenticeships.”

To find out more about the pre-apprenticeship programme or apprenticeships at Tameside College, visit the college website or call 0161 908 6600.



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