12:13 am, February 8, 2011
JAGUAR Land Rover has announced that it will double the number apprenticeship places.
The announcement comes to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, which takes place from February 7 February 11, 2011. Organised by the National Apprenticeship Service this is the fourth year that learning providers, employers, apprentices and their families have come together to highlight the talents and skills of apprentices and celebrate their value to businesses across the country.
In a Populus survey in 2009 82 per cent of employers agreed that apprentices provide the skilled workers we need for the future.
Stirling Wood, head of skills development at the Institute of the Motor Industry said: ‘The retail automotive industry is an attractive sector to work in which is open to all and has very clear career progression pathways. Apprenticeships continue to be a fantastic way to get into the industry and it is great to see the success that former apprentices have achieved.’
Jaguar Land Rover has revealed that it will double the number of advanced (Level 3) apprenticeship places available during 2011, and that the 1500 new recruits currently joining the workforce at Jaguar Land Rover’s Halewood plant to build the new Range Rover Evoque will be trained up to an intermediate (Level 2) apprenticeship.
Jaguar Land Rover HR director, Des Thurlby, said: ‘We are delighted that we have been able to double the intake of Advanced Apprentices in 2011 to 104 places. In the last five years more than 200 Apprentices have joined the company to complete a course which aims to deliver the very best quality programme to educate, inform and empower young people. These individuals will ultimately help drive the future of our business.’
Richard Else, operations director at Jaguar Land Rover, Halewood, said: ‘As our new vehicles become more sophisticated and more luxurious, and as the business strives to reach ever higher quality standards, we recognise that we need to continue to invest in a highly trained workforce. The support of the National Apprentice Service programme will not only help provide the best training but it will also give our new employees a nationally recognised qualification at the same time.’
