According to In-Comm Training, which operates two state-of-the-art technical academies in Aldridge and Telford, it had the biggest collection of young people looking for vocational learning placements in its 43-year history during the summer.
Boosted by a £25,000 donation from the Orlik family and more than £200,000 of contributions from Howmet, Brandauer and In-Comm Training, the STEM Engagement fund has worked with 15 new schools across Birmingham and the Black Country, engaging with 4000 school pupils and more than 50 teachers with a mix of taster days, in-school STEM projects and access to the national F1 in Schools competition.
This vital activity has generated unprecedented interest in apprenticeships, with the firm already placing 125 individuals with employers and is now seeking to find positions for a further 75 individuals for the October/November intake, all of whom want to be the next generation of engineers, designers, mechatronic specialists, tool makers, manufacturing operatives and welders.
“Employers in the region are having real difficulties with recruitment, so this talent pool of young people we have could be an absolute godsend for them,” explained Paul Hodgetts, Business Development Manager at In-Comm Training.
“It has been proven that apprenticeships offer a great way of moulding members of staff that really get the culture of your business and, in the medium-term, will help go a long way to filling the well-publicised skills gaps.”
He continued: “We’ve never had such a big talent pool, and a large majority of our candidates have attended various engagement events, completed mock interviews and sampled apprenticeship taster days, so they fully understand and want to pursue a career in industry…
“Companies are seeing real stars keen to have a career with them and 125 have already been snapped up. The good news is there are still 75 young people looking for the right employer.
In-Comm Training has praised the impact of the recent donation made by the Orlik family in memory of wife and mother Susan – a passionate advocate of giving young people the best start in education and employment.
The new financial backing was the brainchild of Michael Orlik and his sons Anthony and Phillip, who gifted £25,000 to the charitable STEM Engagement Fund and this has led to a major upturn in the interest in vocational learning. It has given the training provider the opportunity to broaden its reach by working with new schools, including Bristnall Hall Academy, Joseph Leckie Academy, Lyndon School, Wood Green Academy and Blue Coat Church of England Academy.
If you would like to consider taking on an apprentice, please visit www.in-comm.co.uk email sales@in-comm.co.uk or call 07741 194227.
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