Birmingham-based ADI Group has been ‘developing young futures’ for the past five years with a pre-apprenticeship scheme, which sees it mentoring 14- to 16-year-olds in electrical and mechanical engineering.

Recently, ADI’s students were treated to a special visit by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who toured ADI’s custom-built apprenticeship workshop and spoke in depth with some of the students currently on the apprentice programme.

Mr Street said: “This is a wonderful, progressive engineering business and it is so important for our region to have the skills that ADI Group’s pre-apprenticeship provides.”

The ADI Group, which in five years, has generated over 60 skilled engineering places from its pre-apprenticeship programme, began with the vision of a former apprentice back in 1990. That man, Alan Lusty — ADI Group’s CEO — established this apprenticeship scheme, which aims to help close the engineering skills gap.

He said: “From an early age I understood that not everybody is academic. The world also needs people who are ‘hands on’. When we started 30 years ago, we recognised that it is our responsibility to build the future — bring young people in and get them to whatever level they want to be.”

One of the biggest successes of ADI’s scheme has been Bromsgrove teenager Abbie Beaver, who at just 17 was named ‘one of the brightest female engineers in the UK’ by the Women’s Engineering Society.

She said: “I have learnt some really valuable skills in mechanical and electrical engineering and most of my friends are impressed when I tell them what I’m doing. I think it’s important to inspire other women.”

With 50% of the first two years pre-apprentice intake still with ADI today, the Birmingham business is calling on others within the region to implement their own schemes and contribute to a sustainable future.

More information on how businesses can get involved can be found at the website (www.adiltd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/adi-Pre-Apprenticeship-Pack.pdf).