Industry benefits from new ‘Extractives’ apprenticeship
Aggregates Industries first to benefit from new four-year industry apprenticeship scheme
AGGREGATE Industries have become the first company in ‘Extractives’ to benefit from a new four-year apprenticeship for the industry, with five recruits joining the company. The scheme is the first ever under the Extractive and Mineral Processing Industries (E&MPI) framework developed by Proskills – the sector skills council for the process and manufacturing industries.
The new apprentices, all of whom are aged 18, will be employed within Aggregate Industries’ Bardon Contracting division and will be based nationally. Under the sponsorship of national contracting director Mike Archer, each apprentice will have a local senior manager as their mentor.
As part of the E&MPI framework, each of the apprentices will complete four separately certified elements:
- A competence-based element – an NVQ at Level 2.
- A knowledge-based element – a Technical Certificate from within the MPQC portfolio.
- Key skills – demonstration of transferable skills including communication and application of numbers.
- ERR – a module on employment rights and responsibilities.
Hefin Jones, training and competency manager with Aggregate Industries, said: ‘As with the rest of the UK population, Aggregate Industries have an ageing workforce and have over the last two years lost skilled and talented individuals to retirement.
‘We need to start now to grow our own pool of technical talent as there is a time delay to build talent from the bottom up. This apprenticeship scheme is the most productive way of recruiting young people. Through our investment in such training, we will be able to build a competent workforce that can deliver results.’
Terry Watts, CEO of Proskills, added: ‘Even in the current difficult times, training staff is key to the future success of businesses, yet only 5% of employers in our sector take on apprentices. We are delighted with the success of the new apprenticeship framework and the impact it has had already on attracting a younger generation of workers in to the industry.’
The five new apprentices in extractives and mineral processing will join the 40 mechanical and electrical trade apprentices already based with the company.
