One of the UK’s leading training providers is celebrating a record year after it completed several strategic projects and saw demand for engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships and upskilling courses soar.
In-Comm Training, which operates two ‘state of the art’ technical academies in Aldridge and Telford, has seen revenue increase by 25% over the last 12 months.
This has been driven by the firm’s largest-ever intake of nearly 200 apprentices in the autumn, and a significant rise in the number of companies looking to take advantage of modular courses and the managed services offer that navigates management teams through quality accreditations and health and safety compliance. It marks what has been an exciting 12 months for the business, including the £3 million opening of its Telford Technical Academy at the start of the year and Jaguar Land Rover becoming the first commercial client for the Precision Tooling Academy in Aldridge.
The brother and sister owner management team of Bekki Phillips and Gareth Jones are already setting their sights on further growth next year, with overall learner numbers predicted to rise to 2,300 and the strategic appointment of a new managing director expected in the first quarter to help it fulfil its potential growth.
Gareth Jones, managing director at In-Comm Training, said: “This has been some year, from moving into a purpose-built site in Telford and securing a £429,000 funding package from the West Midlands Combined Authority to the launch of a dedicated training centre in Gestamp for 60 learners every year. Our employer-led approach to training is really starting to pay off, with revenues increasing by 25% and new companies, including VA Technology, Ansaldo NES, Altrad Babcock, Travis Perkins and 2 Sisters Food Products, deciding to make the most of the In-Comm Training offering.
“This is the start of our new five-year business strategy, and we want to build on a strong 2023 by hitting the ground running in the New yYear - there is exciting changes, partnerships and some new investments to announce, all geared towards supporting industry for today’s sustainability and tomorrow’s growth.”
Recruitment driveIn-Comm Training, which has won three industry awards for its performance this year, has taken on 20 new industrially competent staff, taking its total workforce to 70. The recruitment drive will continue with up to 15 new positions currently available, and these include engineering assessors, internal quality auditors, engineering tutors, and higher education delivery experts.
In a first for the company and to maximise expansion plans, Bekki Phillips and Gareth Jones are planning to take executive director roles and will look to bring in a new managing director to oversee day-to-day operations.
Bekki Phillips said: “There are so many opportunities out there for In-Comm to partner with industry to bridge the competency gap and give companies the skills they need to be successful. This will mean a change to the operational structure to enable us to maximise our potential through our growing number of collaborative partnerships. That is why we will be looking for the right individuals, who want to come and help execute our five-year strategy. People who are passionate about skills and engineering, but the key will be having the operational and delivery excellence competence that ensures we continue to improve our offer and deliver to the best possible standards.”
In-Comm Training was recently named as a member of the Marches Education Partnership, a collective of local colleges and training providers that have come together to boost skills training in engineering, manufacturing, and construction. Over £2.5 million has been secured in funding from the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) to deliver 14 new training centres and 30 courses.
Installation of a dedicated automation line at its Telford academy will be In-Comm’s main role in the project and this is due to be up and running in April next year.