The MTC to triple apprenticeship places

The fast-growing Manufacturing Technology Centre near Coventry has announced that it will be more than trebling its apprentice intake over the next two years. The industry-leading centre is planning to provide training to 300 high quality apprentices a year by 2020.

The news comes as The Department of Education confirmed that the Manufacturing Technology Centre has now been approved to become a provider and placed on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP), which is a major accolade for the centre.

The MTC has seen record breaking attendances at its latest apprenticeship open evenings, inspiring future talent to a career in the world of advanced manufacturing and engineering..

The MTC is planning to provide training to 300 apprentices a year by 2020 / Picture: The MTC

Paul Rowlett, managing director of the MTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, said, “We are delighted to have joined the Register of Approved Training Providers and we look forward to supporting the manufacturing sector with high quality apprenticeship training programmes.”

The Department of Education announcement means that all levy funded employers will be able to spend their levy with the MTC on the advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programme. Non-levy employers will also still be able to work with the MTC by using the government funded approach.

While the MTC continues to work with traditional 16-18-year-old apprentices they will also now be able to work with adults who are already in employment to either up-skill, multi-skill or retrain up to degree level apprenticeships.

Christian Warden, head of skills development for the MTC added, “The successful admission on to RoATP will allow the MTC to continue its future-focused world leading apprenticeship, skills and development programmes.

“This will allow employers to maximise their levy spend with our programmes, giving a genuine return on investment and business impact, while ensuring they become increasingly globally competitive’.

The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd. The MTC’s industrial members include some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.

The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.