PM announces engineering initiative
1 Jul 2013
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a multi-million pound enterprise set to create 100,000 apprenticeships.
In a drive to encourage young people to sign up to engineering apprenticeships, the scheme will seek to create a new generation of engineering technicians.
Apprenticeships are at the heart of our mission to rebuild the economy
The initiative is designed to offer each apprentice structured, on-the-job training built upon a recognised academic qualification.
The announcement was made alongside the Institute of Mechanical Engineers’ (IME) Bloodhound SSC project, a vehicle attempting to amass speeds of 1,000mph by 2015.
David Cameron stated: “Apprenticeships are at the heart of our mission to rebuild the economy, giving young people the chance to learn a trade and to build their careers, creating a truly world-class, high-skilled workforce that can compete and thrive in the global race.”
Industry engineers believe the initiative will ensure the UK has a continuing stream of engineering technicians being developed.
Stephen Tetlow, chief executive of the IME, said, “(that) to help UK companies succeed in this ever-growing competitive global marketplace, we need people with the highest professional skills and abilities.”
The government, which is attempting to boost manufacturing and construction sectors, has already invested £1.5 billion in modern apprenticeships is seeking to build on its estimated total of 500,000 new apprenticeships created since 2010.
