Applications for engineering apprenticeships soar

The company – who’s engineers can be found in food factories across the country – has received five-times more applications to its expanded apprenticeship programme than last year (500 applicants).

Expanding the programme

Now in its second year, the apprenticeship programme has been expanded to 21 places, with 17 spots for engineers and four in sales and services. From the 2500 applications ERIKS will bring around 90 (roughly 4:1) to the next stage which is an assessment day at a service centre.

Last year saw ERIKS take on 13 new engineering apprentices, who are now on the second of four rotations, focusing on the skills that manufacturers and engineering businesses in their region require. They will complete all four by the end of August.

These apprentices get hands-on experience in the service centres while also studying for their Level 3 engineering fitter qualifications at SMB College in Leicester in regular one-week blocks.

‘Notable successes’

Lori Broadhurst, talent development partner at ERIKS, said: “Our first-year programme is going well. We have had some notable successes with several of the apprentices taking on activities or going out to customer sites and completing their safety passports – which is ahead of where we thought they would be at this point. ​

“It shows how quickly our more experienced team members’ knowledge in the service centres is being passed on.”​

Meanwhile, in March, Wrexham-based Jones Village Bakery is on the hunt for 20 new apprentices​ ​to help support growing demand for its products both in the UK and internationally.

The recruitment campaign is spearheaded by managers Tom Breeze and Jac Griffiths, along with trainee product developer Tilly Squire – three ‘home-grown’ talents who all began their careers with the baker straight from school.