Cambridgeshire manufacturer Stainless Metalcraft showed off its award-winning apprenticeship scheme to the CEO of Make UK, Stephen Phipson when he visited the company on 13 February.
During the tour, he met employees and current apprentices from across the business, gaining insights into Metalcraft’s award-winning apprenticeship programme as well as learning more about the company’s efforts to create even more opportunities to train the next generation of skilled workers.
Austen Adams, managing director of Avingtrans’ Process Solutions and Rotating Equipment division, which is home to Metalcraft, commented: ‘’With over 50% of our workforce having begun their careers as apprentices, we strongly believe that companies need to take a proactive approach to training if we’re to ensure that UK PLC has the skills it needs to drive growth over the coming years.
"At Metalcraft, we have invested heavily in creating accessible pathways into rewarding, long-term careers in the industry, which has helped us stave off an impending skills shortage and create rewarding, long-term careers for local people.
“I am extremely proud of the work my colleagues have put into making our apprenticeship scheme one of the most recognisable in the industry and it was an honour to welcome Stephen to our facility to share our experience and plans for the future.”
Metalcraft is one of the UK’s top apprenticeship employers and was recognised by the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in 2020 for Creating Opportunity through Social Mobility. Over 90% of its apprentices continue their journey into permanent roles with the company in completion of their apprenticeship, with several going on to further training and degree studies before progressing into management and leadership roles.
Stephen Phipson said: “I’d like to thank the team at Metalcraft for their warm welcome and for showing me round their impressive facilities. As one of the world’s biggest manufacturing nations, the sector employs almost three million people across the UK, and is at the cutting edge of global innovation.
“Creating a workforce that has the specialist skills and experience we need to support that innovation is crucial and companies like Metalcraft set a great example, investing in skills development to drive growth and reaping long-term benefits by ‘growing their own’ teams.”
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