2013-06-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — The first group of Aeronautical Engineering Apprentices to be trained in conjunction with Newquay Cornwall Airport have graduated after a two-year programme and all are now in work with aviation maintenance companies in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK and Europe.
The programme was delivered by Resource Group working with its aviation maintenance training division, LRTT Ltd at their engineering training centre at Cotswolds Airport.
The ‘core’ apprenticeship was funded through the SEMTA National Apprenticeship Agreement with the Skills Funding Agency with additional support from ESF Convergence. The total ESF funding was £164,000 which included the travel and accommodation costs for the participants’ stay at the Cotswolds Airport training centre.
LRTT is an approved maintenance training organisation and their young apprentices have received globally recognised industry qualifications. After the two-year programme the apprentices completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Aeronautical Engineering and are now qualified to certify maintenance tasks on commercial aircraft.
The apprenticeship programme started with 23 days’ on site training at Newquay Cornwall Airport. The remainder of the eight months training took place at LRTT’s purpose built, state of the art training centre at the Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire. This was followed by 16 months’ vocational work experience coordinated by Resource Group.
Resource Group has been working with large aircraft maintenance organisations across Europe for the past 20 years and is well positioned to support Newquay Cornwall Airport in the placement of apprentices within these maintenance organisations.
The young people were recruited through an open event (advertised in local papers, Jobcentres and colleges) which was held at Kingsley Village, Cornwall where Resource Group and LRTT used presentations and stands to show the different elements of the apprenticeship to potential applicants. Those interested were then invited to submit their CV’s to Resource Group for short listing. The short listed candidates were all interviewed and underwent a variety of selection tests and exams (once again held at Kingsley Village) before selection.
One of the qualified apprentices, Peter Jardine, is employed by Resource Group and works at British International Helicopters; based at Newquay Cornwall Airport. He said, “An apprenticeship in aircraft engineering will be hard work but the rewards of a career that you enjoy will be worth it. I wanted an apprenticeship as it is the best form of training in that you learn whilst you work, gain qualifications and get paid to do so. Compared to school friends I think that my career has progressed equally as well as those who are self employed and those who have graduate level jobs.”
Mirelle Bourne is now working for British International Helicopters and is also based at Newquay Cornwall Airport. She added, “Aircraft engineering is a very interesting, worthwhile career and an apprenticeship is a fantastic way to get into the industry. This was particularly attractive because it offered a comprehensive introduction to the industry with no previous knowledge or experience required. My career has been accelerated by this apprenticeship and given me a good start in the industry, and it has been done a in a shorter space of time than attending university, and still giving me scope to progress and enhance my career in the future in many ways.”
Mark Yeoman, Head of ESF Convergence Communication, said, “This project, aided by ESF Convergence investment, shows the value of apprenticeships – top quality training guided by real business needs, with great employment and career development opportunities. And the successful partnership between the international firm LRTT and NfET shows the true power of collaborative working.”
Newquay for Excellence Training (NFET) provided the link between LRTT Ltd and ESF Convergence. Gill Moore, Director, said, “We were delighted to have played a part in bringing together the expertise and funding, in order to offer this fantastic opportunity to local young people. With the ongoing Aero Hub developments at Newquay Cornwall Airport, we hope that other organisations will follow our lead and recognise that strong partnerships have mutual benefits, but more importantly they can really change lives.”
Ian Fitzpatrick, Managing Director of LRTT said, “I am very pleased to announce another highly capable group of individuals have completed our apprenticeship scheme and will become the next generation of engineers to bolster the industry’s workforce. The Government’s drive towards apprenticeship schemes means young people are choosing to train with LRTT rather than attending costly university courses. We’re proud to offer a recognisable alternative and I wish all of these recent graduates the very best in their new careers.”
Richard Thomasson, Airport Operations Manager, Newquay Cornwall Airport, said, “We are delighted to have been part of this project further enhancing the wider benefits of the Aerohub by giving the platform for Cornwall’s future generation to work within the aerospace sector. We are delighted to note the achievements of the apprentices and wish them the very best for the future.”
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ESF Funding: ESF Convergence/Skills Funding Agency