NDT apprentices graduate with flying colours
21/05/2015
In March, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) joined leading global energy service provider Applus RTD in celebrating the graduation of its 2011 cohort of apprentices. Seventeen apprentices formally received their ECITB Modern Apprenticeship certificates at an awards ceremony held in Grangemouth, home to Applus RTD’s UK Head Office.
The ECITB, the skills, awarding and qualifying organisation, has worked closely with Applus RTD and training provider MetTECH UK to support this latest group, which has focused on NDT. This is the second set of NDT apprentices the company has recruited, with the first 12 recruited in 2007. These apprentices have been operating from the Grangemouth headquarters and are working on various sites and projects throughout the UK.
Evelyn Grogan, Head of Human Resources at Applus RTD UK Ltd, said: “The celebration was a great day for our apprentices and an important milestone for Applus RTD as a major investor in skills and training. We have made a very significant investment in supporting young people to develop careers in non-destructive testing. The success of this latest cohort is testament to our investment and the importance of the apprenticeship route in providing a genuine career pathway.”
Apprenticeships play an important role in ensuring there is a continuous supply of new talent for the engineering construction industry. The industry, which includes many vital infrastructure sectors, such as energy, chemicals processing, water and food and drink, is growing rapidly and will require at least 42,000 more skilled people over the next ten years across various disciplines.
An ECITB Apprenticeship is considered one of the best routes into the industry, providing a recognised stamp of quality and essential learning and practical experience. Every year, the ECITB supports over 600 apprentices directly and many more across the engineering construction industry. The ECITB has worked closely with MetTECH UK to meet Applus RTD’s requirements for a non-destructive testing qualification.
Andy Brown, Director of Regional Operations for the ECITB, said: “We are delighted to be part of the celebration and to have played a role in supporting Applus RTD in its apprenticeship programme. Together, we have helped to pioneer apprenticeships in the area of non-destructive testing. This is an important achievement and seeing this latest crop of apprentices graduating is a proud moment for everyone. Congratulations to Applus RTD for its forward-thinking approach to skills and training and to the seventeen new apprentices in achieving their qualifications. We look forward to supporting Applus in its future programmes.”
Pamela Ringrose, Managing Director at MetTECH UK, said: “Congratulations to all of the apprentices graduating, it has been a privilege to work with each and every one of them. From the first day of training we have seen each apprentice work hard to gain knowledge, develop technical competencies and grow into highly-skilled young people. We’ve even had a few laughs along the way! Working with the Applus RTD team has been brilliant and the company has demonstrated real commitment to training and development. Today, as we celebrate the apprentices’ well-deserved achievements, we are proud to have been part of their journey.”
Fiona Stewart, Head of National Training Programmes Operations at Skills Development Scotland, said: “Companies such as Applus RTD provide a great role model for the wider industry. They show that putting skills planning and workforce development at the centre of your growth strategy can bring real benefits for an employer, leaving them ideally placed to grasp future opportunities. We would like to congratulate Applus and the ECITB for their positive approach, and wish the apprentices every success in their future careers.”
www.ecitb.org.uk
www.applusrtd.com
