Leeds City College will also be involved in the event to explain the role of the college’s traineeship programme. The scheme helps young people who do not have the necessary grades, to prepare for apprenticeships and employment with quality work experience, education and training, focusing on technical skills, as well as English and mathematics.
The organiser of Leeds Manufacturing Festival and director of Leeds-based printing products manufacturer Agfa Graphics, Graham Cooper, says: “Since the Government’s apprenticeship levy was introduced in 2017, UK employers have actually reduced the number of apprenticeship starts and many are missing out on a tremendous opportunity. Numerous employers are also unaware of the existence of traineeships as an excellent precursor to apprenticeships, for young people who do not have the required grades.
“The 15 May event will guide employers through the maze of information and outline the tremendous benefits to manufacturing businesses of hiring young people in apprenticeship roles, which is what the festival is all about,” he adds.
Young people currently involved in manufacturing and engineering apprenticeship programmes will speak at the event, and there will be a question and answer session chaired by festival organisers.
Paul Stead, head of sales and marketing at Leeds-based process control systems and switchgear engineering firm Saftronics, who is speaking at the event, says: “As an employer there have been huge benefits for Saftronics in taking on apprentices, and these young people play an important role in enabling us to drive innovation.
“Several members of the Saftronics management team actually started out in the business as apprentices,” he continues. “Our apprenticeship programme currently has four young people on board and we will be recruiting another four this year.”
The ‘Making apprenticeships work for your business’ event takes place at MPM in Leeds from 08:00 to 10:00 on 15 May, with a factory tour of the MPM glass-reinforced plastic moulds production site available afterwards.
For more information and to book a place click here.
