A proud Labour Sotonian sees first-hand how important engineering apprenticeships are

SETA welcomed Satvir Kaur, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Southampton Test, to our Centre so that she could see for herself the dedicated work that an Independent Training Provider (ITP) does.

As a proud Sotonian, and living in a city that boasts Europe’s busiest cruise port and has the UK’s most productive deep-sea container terminal, she understands the vital role that Engineering plays locally.

On a national scale the UK’s economy is in a weak position with a flatlining productivity, with skills shortages across many key sectors, and large numbers of working age people economically inactive.

Julie Gough, Chief Operating Officer at SETA said” Improving the country’s skills is vital if we’re to reverse flatlining productivity.  Engineering apprenticeships play a significant part in achieving this.”

She added “Investment in skills is crucial to support vocational and technical opportunities for young people.  Independent Training Providers deliver 62% of apprenticeships nationally, and to continue delivering high quality training the funding needs to reflect the real cost of delivery.”

Satvir was able to witness first-hand the amazing work that SETA’s Engineering apprentices do during their first year completing their ‘off-the-job’ training in our workshops.  She talked with apprentices about their time at SETA, who their employers are, and their future programmes.

We explained that alongside the apprentices, we have a cohort of learners on a Skills Boot Camp and the challenges this had presented. 

She heard from Pete Hurlstone, Centre Compliance Manager at SETA, on how the structured training programmes that apprenticeships offer through a unique blend of hands-on experience and academic learning are essential for closing the skills gap, developing talent and inspiring the next generation of engineers in the UK.  As an ex-SETA apprentice himself, Pete was able to talk from experience as to how an engineering apprenticeship was the first rung on the ladder to a fulfilling career.  Apprenticeships offer hands on experience, financial stability and improved employment opportunities.

Satvir spoke with several instructors, each time served engineers having spent time in industry before working at SETA to impart their knowledge to the next generation of engineers.

If you are interested in engineering apprenticeships and would like to find out more please contact us info@seta-training.co.uk or telephone 023 8077 1908 and ask to speak to the Apprenticeships Team.