More than 30 apprenticeship places are available at two of the region’s leading manufacturing training hubs.

The Marches Centre of Manufacturing and Technology (MCMT) (www.mcmt.co.uk) in Bridgnorth and its partner In-Comm Training Academy Shrewsbury (ITAS) are offering the latest Trailblazer courses in welding, general engineering and machining.

Recruitment is currently taking place for a March start, and many of the positions have jobs attached to them, with employers keen to do more to bridge gaps by increasing the pipeline of skills available in Shropshire.

Amy Farley, apprenticeship and centre co-ordinator at MCMT, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to get into engineering and manufacturing and to have access to two sites with over £5 million of investment channelled into them.

All of the courses are delivered by expert trainers from In-Comm Training, and the apprentices will be learning on ‘state of the art’ equipment, including ro-botics, CNC machines and metrology systems, plus MIG, TIG and arc welding bays.

“Going down the apprenticeship route can give you a clear pathway into industry and to securing a degree in exactly the same timescale as if you decided to go to university.

“The difference is that, doing it this way, you are likely to be £100,000 better off from not having any debt and from earning while you’re learning.”

The MCMT is housed in a 36,000ft² facility and provides a high-tech environment for individuals to learn from engineering experts on the latest technology.

It has dedicated fabrication, foundry, lathe, metrology, milling, robotics and vehicle trimming sections. ITAS is co-located on the Salop Design & Engineering site and offers modern lathes, milling centres, surface grinders, welding bays and a 10-seat CAD training room.

Rhian Emery, business development manager at MCMT, said: “As part of our recruitment drive, we are holding two Open Days for businesses and schools to come down and meet our apprentices and our trainers, look around our two facilities and find out more about the courses on offer.

“The first one will be at Bridgnorth on 9 February, followed by Shrewsbury on 15 February. It’s time for the region to step up and address the skills shortage.”