Banks Mining launch new apprenticeship scheme

Mining company and Northumberland College develop bespoke apprenticeships partnership

BANKS Mining have formed a new partnership with Northumberland College to offer four bespoke apprenticeships to local young people.

The company is looking to appoint three apprentice mechanics and one apprentice welder who will all receive on-the-job training at Shotton and Brenkley Lane surface mines in south-east Northumberland, as well as undertaking a comprehensive training programme at Northumberland College over a two-year period.

Banks and Northumberland College have spent two years developing the bespoke apprenticeships, which will offer qualifications up to NVQ Level 3 that are specifically relevant to the skills that Banks require, as well as helping the apprentices develop a wider range of skills and knowledge that they will be able to use throughout their working lives.

Banks will also invest in making a range of site equipment available at the College (engines, hydraulic systems, excavator buckets etc), reflecting the sort of equipment that the apprentices would work with on a daily basis.

Gavin Styles, executive director at Banks Mining, said: ‘Banks is already a major employer in south-east Northumberland, and offering these apprenticeships is a demonstration of our continuing commitment to providing direct benefits to the area through our operations here.’

The training programme will cover a range of different topic areas, including a competence-based NVQ which will be assessed in the workplace, and appropriate numeracy, literacy and ICT support will also be provided as required.

Mark Bolton, director of business development and partnerships at Northumberland College, added: ‘We already work with a wide range of regional employers to help meet their apprenticeship and staff training needs, but the bespoke programme we have developed with Banks is a real advancement in terms of the specific development opportunities it will offer the successful candidates.

‘Having the equipment that the trainees will use on site actually at the College will make a real difference to both the training that they receive and the work they’re able to produce on site.’