John Crane, a global leader in rotating equipment solutions, energy transition technologies and services, and a business of
Smiths Group plc, has announced the launch of its inaugural degree-level engineering apprenticeship programme with the
University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre. In celebration of
National Apprenticeship Week, which took place last week, the programme opens with two live vacancies in the Manchester team, solidifying the company’s commitment to nurturing young talent to advance high-performance sealing technologies crucial for the energy transition.
At the forefront of innovation for advanced sealing solutions in rotating equipment, the programme further strengthens John Crane’s partnership with the University of Sheffield. It is another significant step in the company’s mission to accelerate core technology development and introduce new sealing concepts needed for a hydrogen and low-carbon economy. Ultimately, these initiatives will support and nurture the next generation of engineers at a very early stage in their career development.
From now until the end of March, budding engineers, aged 18 and above, looking to embark on their engineering career can now apply to become a Mechanical Engineer Degree Apprentice directly with the AMRC. The programme will span across five years, and selected apprentices can expect to undergo full-time block training at the AMRC Training Centre in the first year, with one Friday each month working at John Crane’s site in Trafford Park, Manchester. In subsequent years knowledge study will be one day a week, with four days spent with John Crane benefitting from on-the-job learning.
Sally-Anne Williams, early careers partner at John Crane, said: “In honour of
National Apprenticeship Week, we are excited to introduce the programme for young people who perhaps thought the cost of obtaining a university education was out of reach. Through our partnership with the AMRC, selected apprentices will be able to earn a salary while receiving on-the-job training and a well-rounded university experience at the University of Sheffield, one of the UK’s leading engineering training providers. We hope that this will help them begin a fulfilling career in engineering and gain their degree from a Russell Group university.”
Dan Swift, business development executive at AMRC, concluded: “It has been a fantastic journey so far. As soon as John Crane signed the MoU with the University of Sheffield, the discussion almost immediately turned to their workforce skills agenda and how the AMRC Training Centre could assist in meeting the requirements. I am so pleased to have secured these two Level 6 degree engineer apprenticeships for the upcoming September 2025 intake and welcome John Crane to the AMRC Training Centre Employer portfolio.”