The 5% Club campaign aims to tackle skills shortages and youth unemployment in the UK by asking public and private companies to commit to 5% of their work force being apprentices, graduates and sponsored students, within the next five years.
Dr Sam Healy, Programme Director of The 5% Club, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group to the initiative. The company is renowned for its commitment to training and apprenticeship programmes, and having Marshall sign up to The 5% Club sends an extremely positive message out to industry. They set a shining example.”
Marshall has maintained an unbroken apprentice training programme for more than 95 years and has trained over 10,000 apprentices and many of the company’s senior managers and the majority of Directors began their careers as apprentices or graduates.
In addition, earlier this year the company unveiled the Marshall LaunchPad Scholarship scheme. Developed by a group of young engineers from the business, none of whom are older than 22 years old, the scheme aims to provide support, experiences and opportunities in engineering and related topics for those aged 8 to 18.
Steve Fitz-Gerald, CEO of Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, comments: “Young people are the lifeblood of our industry, we have and are continuing to encourage and provide a path for school children, students and graduates to pursue a career in engineering and industry. I started my career as an apprentice and I am passionate about attracting, retaining and developing the future generations to this wonderful industry that has so much to offer.”
In 2008 Marshall established AeroAcademy which offers a variety of training opportunities for students, which include advanced apprenticeships, industrial placements for engineering undergraduates, a foundation certificates and degree in Aerospace Engineering (MRO) which combine academic studies and hands-on training.
The importance of apprenticeship programmes was recognised in last month’s ‘Sector Insights: skills and performance challenges in the advanced manufacturing sector’ report produced by UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). It said: “Some employers report that offering apprenticeships has enabled them to address skills and performance challenges, as well as helping to recruit production and process engineers. Other employers within advanced manufacturing could assess the benefits of offering apprenticeships, and ensure they have clear pathways in place to enable progression to higher-level technical and professional roles.”
To find out more information about The 5% Club and how to become a member, please visit www.5percentclub.org.uk or get in touch by emailing contactus@5percentclub.org.uk. Information about the campaign can also be found on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Image: Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group signs up to The 5% Club, affirming its commitment to addressing skills shortages in advanced engineering sectors.
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For further information, please contact:
Oliver Drury
Director of External Communications
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group
Tel: +44 (0)7771 947225
Email: oliver.drury@marshalladg.com
Richard Warrilow
PR Consultant
+44 (0)1522 789000
richard@declaration.co.uk
Mark Broughton
PR Consultant
+44 (0)7880 506345
Mark.broughton@marontech.co.uk
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