"Lacklustre" approach to apprenticeships

Silsoe, UK – The Government’s campaign to recruit apprentices lacks both commitment and investment, believes Andrew Robinson, CEO of Silsoe, Bedfordshire-based Automated Technology Group Ltd (ATG).

“There are bright young people out there and employers in booming sectors of industry crying out for them,” said the company boss. “It’s the government’s job to match them up but they are failing in this key task. Their efforts are lacklustre, to say the least.”

Robinson, who began his own career as an apprentice, continued, “With the current manufacturing boom in the UK, we have simply been unable to recruit sufficient staff of the right calibre through the traditional channels.”

Robinson. believes that government bodies responsible for promoting apprenticeships focus their efforts on the UK’s largest companies. This, he argues, means that SMEs, such as ATG, are not getting the support they have been promised.

“SMEs don’t have the same resources as the big boys, so we rely on the support structure provided by the government in this area,” said Robinson. “This is why the government’s efforts, which appear to lack both commitment and investment, are so disappointing. The coalition should be aiming the spotlight firmly on SMEs and pushing its quangos to support us.”

The situation has prompted ATG, whose customers include Coca-Cola, Ford and Tata Steel, to launch its own apprenticeship scheme to fast-track school leavers and graduates.

“We’ve bitten the bullet and invested in our own scheme - the Autotech Academy - and we’re aiming to take on some 20 apprentices before the end of this year,” explained Robinson.