Mike Houghton, managing director of process industry and drives at Siemens, said: “Siemens has 500 trainees at any given time, so this is a fantastic opportunity to add value to their careers and the region’s higher skills base.”
According to Engineering UK, there will be more than 2.6million job openings between now and 2022 and that the UK needs double the amount of advanced engineering apprenticeships.
The three organisations have outlined a Degree Apprenticeship which would allow company recruits to study block release at Trafford College and the University of Salford, working seamlessly from Higher National Certificate/Higher National Diploma to Bachelor of Engineering level.
Sir Bill Moorcroft, principal at Trafford College, said: “This is a fantastic project that brings together a key employer and education partners to provide an innovative pathway for high quality engineering graduates of the future that will be part of the UK’s economic growth, and provide a route map for others to follow.”
Degree Apprenticeships, which are part government-funded, allow people to study while working and achieve higher qualifications without accruing large student debts.
Professor Paul Rowlett, pro vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Salford said: “This is an exciting partnership model which we hope will generate excellent options for engineers hoping to further their careers and strengthen engineering in the UK.”
The first apprentices from the three-way collaboration are expected to graduate in 2018.
