Sheffield-based Ceratizit UK & Ireland Ltd (www.ceratizit.com) has announced a three-year agreement to provide cutting tools and technical support and applications advice to the two apprentice training sites run by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) — MTC Apprenticeships in Coventry and Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) in Abingdon.

Training the next generation of engineers is vital to the ongoing success of UK manufacturing, particularly in high technology sectors including aerospace, energy, automotive and, of course, medical. As such, Ceratizit UK & Ireland sees the support of apprentices and other educational establishments as an important commitment that it is happy to make.

Commenting on the partnership, Emma Johnstone, operations manager for the training centres, said: “It is great to have the support from Ceratizit UK & Ireland for the apprentice programme across both sites. Machining applications is a core subject for the qualification and underpins the advanced machining applications and practices that apprentices learn.

“Having access to the latest tools that are used in industry gives apprentices first-hand knowledge and skills that they will use in the workplace, a real benefit for employers.”

As part of its ongoing support for young engineers, Ceratizit UK & Ireland provides a significant discount to any school, college or accredited apprentice training facility that covers every item in its extensive range of cutting tools and workholding systems. In addition, its technical sales engineers are all qualified as STEM Ambassadors, meaning they are able to provide on-site support as and where students need it to enhance their knowledge of metal cutting technology.

Adrian Fitts, Ceratizit UK & Ireland’s sales manager — industry solutions, said: “Supporting MTC apprenticeships and OAS is an ideal extension of the work we already do to promote the future of engineering. As part of the partnership with the MTC we will provide them with an annual allowance to spend on any product within our portfolio, as well as supporting them with remote and on-site technical support.”