News

Successful Apprentice Scheme Welcomes Second Wave of Candidates

Following on from a major investment in machine tools and equipment, CEM and Training Mentor Steve Cowgill, are proud to announce that the introduction of their apprentice scheme has been an ‘overwhelming success’ and subsequently, a second phase of trainee recruitment is well underway.

General Manager, Nigel Fabricius has an infectious enthusiasm for the scheme and having worked with Bradford based Appris to find the best young candidates, has discovered that more girls are beginning to show an interest starting a career in engineering: “On this occasion, we have had girls applying for apprenticeship positions and with this latest intake we are delighted to have welcomed Heidi Butterfield to CEM. We feel that Heidi will have a positive influence on all the apprentices and help promote excellence within the workplace.”

CEM are not alone in their belief that more female engineers coming into the industry would be beneficial. The issue was recently highlighted in a government report entitled ‘Tomorrow’s Engineers’, put forward by The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills in which Business Secretary, Vince Cable, said that the UK has the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe; fewer than 10%. The report highlights how a growing, changing economy will create yet more demand for engineers and for a variety of social reasons, girls are missing out. Nigel Fabricius hopes that Heidi’s contribution will result in CEM progressing to encourage even more girls to consider engineering as a good career choice.

The high calibre of the apprentice training scheme has generated local interest, with one firm already considering the prospect of taking some of CEMs apprentices after the initial year of training; this includes the possibility of CEM providing training on their behalf. This opportunity reinforces CEMs policy of maintaining a highly skilled workforce through high quality training and takes CEM closer to its aim of becoming a recognised training body in its own right.