True British manufacturing at Vauxhall

More than 700 young students have been experiencing true British manufacturing at Vauxhall and exploring career opportunities at Britain's 4th ranked top employer – and top automotive employer.

Following last year's successful roll-out of the 'See Inside Manufacturing' initiative at various automotive manufacturing locations, Vauxhall's Luton and Ellesmere Port plants once again opened their doors to local schools and other educational institutions during the month of June.

Sessions provided a first-hand insight into various career opportunities within the automotive manufacturing arena – also including a plant tour. In addition, various games and fun activities were available to experience, equally relating to the manufacturing environment.

With a track record of top management succeeding into their leading roles following an undergraduate placement or apprenticeship at Vauxhall, the company has many success stories to tell related to development opportunities: Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall's chairman and managing director, and Phil Millward, Vauxhall's director for human resources, are two of many examples.

This summer, Vauxhall is once again welcoming over 100 new undergraduates, taking up work placements at various Vauxhall sites, while around 150 apprentices will be joining Vauxhall's apprenticeship scheme in engineering or commercial roles, or at Vauxhall retailers.

Babcock to recruit more apprentices

One of the UK's leading engineering support services companies Babcock International Group is set to recruit a further ten apprentices at its Clyde base – and to help establish a talent pool for smaller companies.

In a move to help smaller firms recruit, those candidates who successfully complete Babcock's assessment process this year, but fail to get a position on the Clyde, will be given a second chance of alternative employment, thanks to Semta, the sector skills council for science, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Babcock's marine and technology division at Clyde has committed itself to on-going training and support in Scotland, having reaped the benefits of investing in apprenticeships for many years, with the new intake coming on top of 28 apprentices currently in their third year.

It is planning to establish an academy for new recruits and its existing workforce to ensure the right skills are in place to sustain employment at HM Naval Base Clyde for many years to come.

Stewart McKinlay, Semta's business partner in Scotland, said: "These developments at Babcock are a real boost for engineering in Scotland. Babcock have invested heavily in training and it is particularly pleasing to see them looking after those young people who have the aptitude and desire to pursue a career in engineering, but just miss out on the ten positions available.

"It is often difficult for smaller firms without an HR team to take on new recruits, so it is fantastic that we can support them with a talent pool filled by high calibre candidates from the Babcock process."

It comes after 15 Babcock apprentices, who joined the company four years ago, gathered with their friends and families at a Glasgow hotel to celebrate the end of their apprenticeships and move into full-time roles at the base last month.

All 15 had been registered for EAL's Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 3 in Engineering Maintenance. Eight apprentices were registered for Electrical Pathway, with the remaining seven registered for the Mechanical Pathway.

In undertaking their apprenticeships, electrical apprentices were expected to become fully competent in the maintenance and repair of electrical plant and equipment associated with high and low voltage conversion and distribution systems, dockside and workshop cranes, boiler house plant, air conditioning, calibration of test instruments and environmental control systems, public address and fire alarm systems, and domestic services.

Mechanical apprentices were expected to become fully competent in the maintenance and repair of mechanical plant and equipment associated with workshop services, low and high pressure air systems, dockside services, diesel generators, overhead mobile and travelling cranes, water treatment plants and refrigeration. Foundation machining skills developed as part of the programme included turning, milling and drilling.

The event also marked the presentation of the Apprentice of the Year Award to Liam Doherty and runner up Nicholas Russell. Doherty (24) from Dumbarton and a former pupil of Our Lady and St Patrick's High School, and Russell (20) from Garelochhead and a former pupil of Hermitage Academy, have been appointed into mechanical and electrical fitter roles respectively.

Ray King, Babcock's Academy business partner - technical said:" Once again, the Apprentice Awards Dinner proved a fitting culmination to four years of hard work, personal achievement and teamwork for this particular group of apprentices. However, as we mark the end of one cycle we are already well underway in selecting our 2012 apprentice intake. In addition to recruiting apprentices for our Electrical and Mechanical Pathways in Engineering Maintenance, we continue to expand our range of opportunities by offering additional pathways in services maintenance, electronic and instrumentation and control."

Author
Brian Wall

Related Companies
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors Ltd

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