Media Centre
April 2006
Metsec plc
METSEC APPRENTICE TRAINING CENTRE OPENED
Metsec, one of Oldbury’s largest manufacturing firms, has set up an apprentice training centre to make sure its young engineers have the skills to help guarantee the company’s future.
The £120,000 centre was officially opened today (April 20th) by Sir Alan Jones, chairman of Toyota Manufacturing UK, in his capacity as chairman of SEMTA, the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies.
The apprenticeship is a paid, four year, full-time programme, mixing on-the-job practical training with a range of key skills, personal development and college-based training. The apprentices used to spend their first year off site, learning workshop skills in college, but Metsec has set up its own training centre to provide more focused training in this area.
Clive Wolversen, Metsec’s group engineering manager, explained: “We decided that, as the employer, we were in the best position to design and provide the most appropriate engineering training within the apprenticeship programme to meet the specific skills needs of our business. We also wanted to make sure the apprentices felt part of Metsec and understood the company’s requirements, culture and values.”
Metsec takes on five apprentices a year, through the Metals Academy, at a cost of £50,000 each over the four-year programme. They experience every type of work in Metsec’s s engineering products and building components divisions before specialising in their final year to qualify for a job in their chosen area.
The apprentices who join this year will be the first to do their training almost exclusively at Metsec. The company has worked closely with the Metals Academy, a division of MetSkill that is part of the SEMTA Group, to win formal accreditation to issue certificates to NVQ level 2 and 3.
All the company’s 20 current apprentices are now based in the training centre in a dedicated building on Metsec’s main Broadwell Road site. The centre is equipped with a wide range of facilities including a milling machine, lathe, surface grinder and welding technology.
The apprentices receive day-to-day management and support from a full-time mentor, Colin Saunders, a former maintenance engineer with the company. He said: “I oversee their training and make sure it’s properly delivered in-house. I’m also a father figure for them, helping with job or personal issues. The apprentices’ attitude, commitment and teamwork have all improved enormously since they spend much more time on site.”
One of the third year apprentices, 19 year old Luke Groves, agreed: “The training centre is a really supportive learning environment. We benefit a lot from Colin’s advice and from one to one training rather than being in a class of 20 or more and we can help each other. We know we’re learning the right skills, we know what’s expected of us and we feel part of Metsec because they listen to our ideas.”
The company employs 420 people and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Stephen Tilsley, Metsec’s group managing director, explained: “Metsec has always had an apprenticeship scheme and in 1995 we became involved with the Metals Academy to take on board the Metals Industry Apprenticeship to make sure we had enough skilled people coming through the ranks.
“We have recently stepped up recruitment so that the apprentices, who now make up about 5% of the workforce, will, over the next four to five years, replace the employees approaching retirement. It’s about developing potential and training our future.”
The success of the apprenticeship programme has been recognised externally. Metsec was a runner up in the national Apprenticeships Awards 2005 in the Employer of the Year, large business category. Luke Groves is one of four finalists in the prestigious 2006 Metals Industry Apprentice of the Year competition, the result being announced on 3rd May.
Steve Giles, Metsec’s group training manager noted: “Out of the 36 apprentices who’ve joined us since 1995, 30 are still with us, including the first one we recruited. Our retention and completion rates are well above average for our sector and the training is so good we have designed a mature apprenticeship programme for some of our shopfloor employees who want to expand their skills.”
Metsec’s past apprentices are now working as production engineers, skilled rolling technicians, maintenance and quality technicians, designers, CAD detailers and salesmen whilst a number have become senior managers and directors in the company.
Opening the new apprentice training centre, Sir Alan Jones, chair of SEMTA, said: “The strength and vitality of any company is dependent on the skills and challenging attitudes of each employee. Companies which invest in the future by providing development opportunities for their employees are the ones, like Metsec, that lay the foundation for a prosperous future. True long-term vision is what Metsec has and continues to show with this facility – its a real beacon to the UKs manufacturing industry and to each of us.”
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Metsec plc
METSEC APPRENTICE TRAINING CENTRE OPENED
Metsec, one of Oldbury’s largest manufacturing firms, has set up an apprentice training centre to make sure its young engineers have the skills to help guarantee the company’s future.
The £120,000 centre was officially opened today (April 20th) by Sir Alan Jones, chairman of Toyota Manufacturing UK, in his capacity as chairman of SEMTA, the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies.
The apprenticeship is a paid, four year, full-time programme, mixing on-the-job practical training with a range of key skills, personal development and college-based training. The apprentices used to spend their first year off site, learning workshop skills in college, but Metsec has set up its own training centre to provide more focused training in this area.
Clive Wolversen, Metsec’s group engineering manager, explained: “We decided that, as the employer, we were in the best position to design and provide the most appropriate engineering training within the apprenticeship programme to meet the specific skills needs of our business. We also wanted to make sure the apprentices felt part of Metsec and understood the company’s requirements, culture and values.”
Metsec takes on five apprentices a year, through the Metals Academy, at a cost of £50,000 each over the four-year programme. They experience every type of work in Metsec’s s engineering products and building components divisions before specialising in their final year to qualify for a job in their chosen area.
The apprentices who join this year will be the first to do their training almost exclusively at Metsec. The company has worked closely with the Metals Academy, a division of MetSkill that is part of the SEMTA Group, to win formal accreditation to issue certificates to NVQ level 2 and 3.
All the company’s 20 current apprentices are now based in the training centre in a dedicated building on Metsec’s main Broadwell Road site. The centre is equipped with a wide range of facilities including a milling machine, lathe, surface grinder and welding technology.
The apprentices receive day-to-day management and support from a full-time mentor, Colin Saunders, a former maintenance engineer with the company. He said: “I oversee their training and make sure it’s properly delivered in-house. I’m also a father figure for them, helping with job or personal issues. The apprentices’ attitude, commitment and teamwork have all improved enormously since they spend much more time on site.”
One of the third year apprentices, 19 year old Luke Groves, agreed: “The training centre is a really supportive learning environment. We benefit a lot from Colin’s advice and from one to one training rather than being in a class of 20 or more and we can help each other. We know we’re learning the right skills, we know what’s expected of us and we feel part of Metsec because they listen to our ideas.”
The company employs 420 people and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Stephen Tilsley, Metsec’s group managing director, explained: “Metsec has always had an apprenticeship scheme and in 1995 we became involved with the Metals Academy to take on board the Metals Industry Apprenticeship to make sure we had enough skilled people coming through the ranks.
“We have recently stepped up recruitment so that the apprentices, who now make up about 5% of the workforce, will, over the next four to five years, replace the employees approaching retirement. It’s about developing potential and training our future.”
The success of the apprenticeship programme has been recognised externally. Metsec was a runner up in the national Apprenticeships Awards 2005 in the Employer of the Year, large business category. Luke Groves is one of four finalists in the prestigious 2006 Metals Industry Apprentice of the Year competition, the result being announced on 3rd May.
Steve Giles, Metsec’s group training manager noted: “Out of the 36 apprentices who’ve joined us since 1995, 30 are still with us, including the first one we recruited. Our retention and completion rates are well above average for our sector and the training is so good we have designed a mature apprenticeship programme for some of our shopfloor employees who want to expand their skills.”
Metsec’s past apprentices are now working as production engineers, skilled rolling technicians, maintenance and quality technicians, designers, CAD detailers and salesmen whilst a number have become senior managers and directors in the company.
Opening the new apprentice training centre, Sir Alan Jones, chair of SEMTA, said: “The strength and vitality of any company is dependent on the skills and challenging attitudes of each employee. Companies which invest in the future by providing development opportunities for their employees are the ones, like Metsec, that lay the foundation for a prosperous future. True long-term vision is what Metsec has and continues to show with this facility – its a real beacon to the UKs manufacturing industry and to each of us.”
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