Make UK initiative to help firms retain young talent

Make UK, the manufacturers'​ organisation, is backing a new initiative by support platform Next Gen Makers to help manufacturing and engineering employers retain apprenticeship talent and maximise their investment in young people.

As official training provider partner, Make UK will help to promote and develop the Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme – an initiative designed to support firms to overcome skills challenges and build talent for future success.

In what is regarded as a first for the UK manufacturing and engineering industry, the programme equips manufacturers with the tools they need to better plan for, attract and retain apprentices.

It provides a host of best practice resources and peer to peer discussion forums to enable engineering and manufacturing firms of all sizes to replicate proven methods adopted by others that have successfully run apprenticeship schemes for some time.

World-class Technology Hub
Make UK welcomes over 400 apprentices every year to its world-class Technology Hub in Aston, Birmingham, from customers including Jaguar Land Rover, Severn Trent, Ishida and Ibstock.

Stephen Mitchell, director of apprentices and technical training at Make UK, said: “We know through our members that retaining young talent is just as much of a challenge as attracting them in the first place - and when a business has invested time and money in a young person, they want to see the long-term benefits, as well as helping the sector bridge the skills gap we currently face.”

Adam Tipper, Next Gen Makers managing director, said: “We are delighted to have an organisation like Make UK endorsing and partnering with the programme. As the leading national manufacturing representative body and a Training facility, their insight and experience of apprenticeships is unparalleled and invaluable.

“Our first cohort of 20 manufacturers who have signed up to the Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme met for the first time online last month, and we had very positive feedback from attendees — the future is bright.”