Engineering skills course gives learners springboard into industry careers
06/12/2018
Industry giants Sellafield, BMW and Airbus are among the major engineering companies to recruit talent from a training scheme to prepare learners for a career in the engineering construction industry.The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board’s (ECITB’s) Introduction to Engineering Construction (ITEC) course is a ten-month programme preparing learners for apprenticeships and other roles in the industry. Funded by the ECITB and delivered by 11 colleges and training providers across England, the ITEC course equips young people with the skills, qualifications and behaviours to prepare them for employment.
Since successfully completing the ITEC course in June, more than 50 learners have already progressed into apprenticeships. With 92% of the 154 participants completing the ITEC course, many more are set to progress into work, apprenticeships or higher education. Last year, 69% of ITEC learners progressed into related jobs or further training.
Chris Claydon, Chief Executive of the ECITB, said: “The number and stature of the companies recruiting from our pool of graduates show the value of the ITEC course to industry and is a ringing endorsement of the work of our training providers.
“The programme gives youngsters a solid grounding to commence a career in a wide range of engineering disciplines and we want more engineering construction employers to benefit from this talent pool.
“The demand for new recruits to the engineering construction workforce is set to rise significantly over the next decade and the ECITB ITEC programme will play its part in helping to fill that skills gap.”
Donna Connor, Head of Education and Skills at Sellafield Ltd, said: “Having access to ITEC learners broadens our recruitment options and a real plus point is that these young people now have a better idea of what type of engineer they want to become.
“It is also great for the wider community, as those who do not secure an apprenticeship the first time around are encouraged to continue to develop and enhance their engineering skills, so that they stand a stronger chance in the future.”
Launched in 2015 to offset the drop in apprenticeships offered across the industry, the ECITB ITEC course offers all of the year one components of a formal apprenticeship and is equivalent to the first year of a Level 3 apprenticeship. Learners gain a nationally-recognised engineering knowledge qualification, ten weeks of practical skills training and the industry-standard Client/Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) safety passport.
www.ecitb.org.uk
