BMW, Rolls Royce, Patheon and the Royal Navy are amongst the companies taking advantage of their relationship with UTC Swindon to grow their own talent; bringing in school leavers and providing the training they need to progress.
According to the Institution of Engineering and Technology 2016 survey, some 31% of employers state that a key problem they face in recruiting engineering and technology graduates is attracting candidates with sufficient work experience. The main reasons degrees fail to meet expectations are because they don’t develop practical skills (59%) and offer a lack of opportunities for students to develop practical work experience in companies (43%).
Growing their own talent, through apprenticeships, is an approach which benefits both the employer and the apprentice.
UTC Swindon is working with high calibre companies such as these, to ensure their students get the very best opportunities to progress to jobs with training to develop the skills that these companies demand.
Patheon is a global pharma contract development and manufacturing organisation which provides an end-to-end supply chain solution for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. With a UK base in Swindon, the company serves more than 400 clients around the world. It is developing a pipeline of new talent with the support of UTC Swindon.
Gareth Wilson completed BTEC Level 3 Engineering and A-level in Maths at UTC Swindon this summer. He said: “I was thinking about moving onto university after completing my course, but discovered the apprenticeship programme at Patheon when they came to deliver a presentation.
“Having the apprenticeship confirmed before I finished my course was a good place to be. It meant I didn’t have to worry about what’s next and could get straight on with the next stage of my career.”
Patheon’s initial contact with UTC Swindon is set to lead to a greater partnership in the coming year. This will include delivering an ‘engineers of the future’ project and supporting A-level chemistry students.
Samantha Romanek, Senior HR Business Partner at Patheon, said: “I can really see the value in a school like UTC Swindon. The facilities are incredible and the learners seem to develop a more mature, business-like outlook, which stands out. As an engineering employer, it is good to see young people who have decided that this is the route for them and have taken a decision which will give them the best possible start.”
Gareth Wilson said of his UTC experience; “I was attracted to studying at UTC Swindon because of the engineering specialism. I attended an open day and was impressed by the professional atmosphere and the engineering facilities and equipment. These were much better than you would find at a typical school.”
UTC Swindon is a school for 14-19 year olds which specialises in engineering and digital technologies, taught alongside the national curriculum. Students can now apply for a place to join the UTC in September 2018 and their next open event is on Tuesday 26 September, 5.30-7.30pm; please register to attend online at www.utcswindon.co.uk/events.
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