adi Group shares industry’s concern that fewer students are opting for science and technology-based subjects:

“A skills shortage is an increasing area of concern for many businesses within the engineering sector,” said James Sopwith Group Sales and Marketing Director at adi Group. “These educational trends are a wake-up call for engineering’s education pipeline because it is vital that we keep the talent flowing into our industry.

“However there are signs that the work that government and many educational bodies have been doing is having some positive influence on the choices that young girls in particular are making by helping them to enjoy and identify with science subjects and careers in engineering. But it is just as important that industry continues to do its part to pull more young people into the sector by inspiring them about the available opportunities, whether that be in the shape of apprenticeship programmes, partnerships with schools and universities or straightforward work experience placements.”

adi Group has created its own Apprentice Academy to train and develop talented youngsters into the world of engineering. The adi Apprentice Academy offers a two to three year programme for new apprentices, interns and graduates depending on their career path entry point. It can accept apprentices across the full spectrum of the multi-disciplined engineering company’s reach covering 22 different engineering disciplines, from process pipework to facilities management.

Apprentices spend four days a week within the workplace and one day a week at college completing a Level 2 and 3 National Vocational Qualification and Technical Certificate.

adi Group currently has nine apprentices in the business all at various stages of their programmes and has live links with North Bromsgrove School and Aston University Engineering Academy to encourage young people into the engineering sector. In addition, the company is working in partnership with Handsworth Wood Girls Academy and The Design and Technology Association to upskill teachers to bring them up-to-speed with the technical and soft skills required by businesses. The programme is designed to link teachers and industry experts together, by using a structured training, coaching and assessment programme to develop curriculum and business requirements.

James Sopwith concludes: “Like other Midlands-based engineering businesses, our Apprentice Academy provides a career path to a highly skilled and lucrative profession with the opportunity to work on high-profile projects spanning sectors such as automotive, aerospace, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and defence.

“Not only do these initiatives support our own business growth – we are currently taking on up to 8 people per week and are set to grow our workforce two-fold to 1000 people by 2020 – but they meet the needs of our ‘super’ region’s ongoing engineering success, helping to future-proof the flow of engineering talent into the West Midlands and drive overall economic development.