Institution news
The accreditation was announced at the Peterlee plant by Denis Healy, the Institution’s Business Development Manager for the North East region, who presented apprentices and Phil Handley, the Managing Director of Caterpillar Articulated Trucks, with a certificate at Caterpillar’s Learning Centre of Light. The recognition included apprentices from disciplines such as fabrication and welding, auto electrical, maintenance and tool room.
Among the presentation party was auto electrical apprentice Vicky English, who is Caterpillar Peterlee’s first female apprentice. In June, she had been one of the apprentices from leading manufacturing and construction companies who met the Prime Minister at Downing Street, when he announced a new initiative to create 100,000 registered engineering technicians by 2018 and fill a shortage in the industry.
Representing Caterpillar’s commitment to developing engineering excellence, Vicky said: “I believe that getting young people into apprenticeships and giving them knowledge of job opportunities is essential for the country to excel. I also believe that young people are the future and therefore need to be invested in.”
“The Prime Minister was very friendly and very interested in all of the apprentices and their positions. The experience of Downing Street is one I will never forget.”
Vicky was so inspired by this experience and by David Cameron’s description of apprenticeships as being “at the heart of the mission to rebuild the economy,” that she has joined the Institution as an affiliate EngTech member, and has recently registered to become an apprentice ambassador for the National Apprentice Service.
After the formal presentation of the accreditation certificate Jill Dwyer, the Institution’s Business Development Executive who supports apprentices working towards professional registration, did a presentation about Engineering Technician (EngTech) status for 15 apprentices from Caterpillar who have completed their apprenticeship and who are now submitting their approved route EngTech applications.
Caterpillar is a strong advocate of apprenticeships with long-standing and successful schemes employing hundreds of apprentices across its UK businesses. Caterpillar Peterlee’s current apprenticeship programme has been active for seven years. In 2012, the National Apprenticeship Service recognised Caterpillar Peterlee as having the best apprenticeship programme in the North East region. Caterpillar Peterlee Apprentice Andrew Price was also recognised in 2012 as one of the top three apprentices in the North East Region Advanced Apprentice of the year category. Accreditation by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers now gives the company professional backing and reinforces the high standard of the advanced apprenticeship programme.
Fred Felton Caterpillar’s Apprentice Manager said: “It is a fantastic achievement to be formally recognised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. It’s an endorsement of the apprenticeship scheme we run here at our Peterlee plant and is recognition for all the teams involved in delivering first-class training and development to aspiring young engineers of the future.”
“From the apprentices’ perspective, this is an opportunity for them to further develop their career and demonstrate professional expertise. The apprentices now have the additional benefit of professional recognition, career progression, information and resources, life-long support.”
Chris Fairs, HR Manager said: “Developing skills in our region is critical for our continued success as a strong contributor to the UK manufacturing base and export markets. Diversity is equally important to our continued success - Vicky is our first ever female apprentice and is developing into a great role model for others to follow.”
“Being formally recognised by the governing body now gives our apprenticeship programme the credibility it deserves and provides our apprentices with the opportunity to develop with the first-class support of the institution.”
Summing up the significance of the achievement, and the company’s support for its employees’ commitment to professional registration, Denis Healey said: "Caterpillar is a fine example of the best of North East engineering, producing superb articulated trucks which are exported all over the world. The company is fully committed to professional registration, and the apprentice scheme complements the graduate MPDS scheme that has been in place for a number of years. There is masses of enthusiasm from the young apprentices, and they all now have a clear pathway to professional registration as engineering technicians."
Caterpillar Peterlee is looking to take on more apprentices in September 2013 to continue their sustainable talent pipeline and add strength to their existing talent.
To find out how the Institution can support your company’s apprentice scheme: http://www.imeche.org/apprentices