Apprentices gain streamlined route to professional registration

The Institution has accredited Training 2000’s apprenticeship scheme, ensuring that its students and apprentices follow a scheme of excellence.

Accreditation of Training 2000’s apprenticeship scheme also ensures apprentices can participate in a streamlined route to professional registration as Engineering Technicians (EngTech) with the Institution after they have finished their course.

The Institution’s Senior Business Development Executive, specialising in UK apprenticeships and EngTechs, Paul Tabern, recently visited the Blackburn-based company to present staff with its Approved Certificate and to make presentations to a number of apprenticeship cohorts.

Paul said: “The Institution is delighted that Training 2000 has achieved this standard. The organisation has strong links with the local engineering industry and is now aligned to the Institution, an internationally recognised, professional and learned body. This ensures its trainees gain the best experience during their courses.”

He added: “Training 2000 and the Institution have an exceptional working partnership. The leaders at Training 2000 understand the benefits of Institution affiliate membership and can promote a wealth of resources to their apprentices, which enables the Institution to support upcoming engineering technicians on their career path. In addition, on completion of a Higher Apprenticeship, we can offer applicants a streamlined route to professional registration as an EngTech member.”

Paul Duerden, Head of Customer Engagement for Engineering at Training 2000, commented that the organisation was exceptionally proud of the achievement.

He said: “This is recognition of the quality of training offered at Training 2000. We feel it’s very important to give our apprentices the opportunities that come from working closely with the IMechE. They have access to resources, which support them academically, and a growing sense of being part of a rewarding profession. Employers that we work with value our accreditation, and some are also inspired to work towards it in their own companies.”

He added: “Our working relationship with the IMechE is excellent. Paul Tabern is on hand to answer our questions, and to encourage engagement with IMechE events and developments. We are now looking at how to extend membership from apprentices to our engineering trainers and advisers.”

According to Paul Tabern, Institution accreditation is a mark of an exceptional standard. It brings benefits to the provider and industry partners as well as individual trainees.

He said that apprentices on a company-based or college-accredited scheme could benefit from a streamlined route to registration as an Engineering Technician with the Institution. This was because the Institution accreditation verified that the course content had reached a quality and a criteria that met the competencies and experience required in an EngTech application.

Paul added that applicants from an approved course would find that around 90% of their application criteria for EngTech was met by completing their Higher Apprenticeship scheme.

There were many benefits for all apprentice Institution members, according to Paul. These included:

• Free Apprentice Affiliate membership 
• Engineering news and updates
• Access to library and resources
• Access to local events 
• Networking opportunities with employers and peers
• Personal and financial support
• Careers support and guidance
• Access to scholarships and awards

Paul said that apprenticeship training providers – whether based in education or industry – also benefited from accreditation. He said scheme accreditation enabled:

• Employers to attract the best apprentices
• Employers to retain and develop staff, helping them gain a competitive advantage
• Scheme providers to work in partnership with the Institution, which offered a globally recognised standard in engineering
• Apprentices to follow a direct route to professional registration as EngTechs

Paul added that accreditation lasted for three years and after that re-application was necessary.

More information
For more information on professional registration, contact Paul Tabern on Tel: +44 (0)7894 480458 or by email at: p_tabern@imeche.org. 

Or read a recent EngTechNow report, entitled The Experience Gap, which emphasised that improving quality of apprenticeship schemes was among the five steps to addressing the UK engineering skills gap.