The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry is to launch the UK’s first apprenticeships in the UK dedicated to providing the skills needed for additive manufacturing (3-D printing).

This will provide a ‘pipeline’ of technicians fully skilled in one of the fastest-growing advanced manufacturing technologies in industry. The MTC houses the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM), which brings together “the most comprehensive combination of equipment and capability in the UK”.

The MTC’s Martin Dury said the new apprenticeship programmes are to be launched in September, and they will address the current shortage of skills in this vital area of advanced manufacturing. “While there are a number of additive training courses currently available in the UK, these tend to be focused on equipment use.

"The MTC is aiming to provide additive-manufacturing apprenticeships that will cover the whole range of competences necessary for specific occupations. They will also offer ‘accredited curricula’ short courses for the up-skilling of existing staff.

“We are currently writing competency frameworks that will define the knowledge, skills and behaviour required to undertake various jobs in an ‘end to end’ additive-manufacturing production environment. These frameworks will then form the foundation for the apprenticeship programmes and short-course curricula.”

Anyone with additive-manufacturing expertise who would like to contribute to the design of these competency frameworks is invited to contact the MTC ().

The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.