Dematic has launched an Engineering Design Apprenticeship programme with a cohort of four students – two starting a four-year course in Mechanical Engineering Design and two in Controls Engineering Design. Under the scheme, arranged in collaboration with Warwick Trident College (part of WCG), successful students will achieve NVQ Level 3 on completion of the four-year course, with an option of adding an HNC during the final two years.

Two of the apprentices, Eve Smith and Tyler Manley, applied for their apprenticeships with Dematic following an open-day for students from North Oxfordshire Academy held at Dematic’s Adderbury offices back in March – whereas, Keaton Church and Brendan Visagie applied through the Government’s Apprenticeships Portal.

After a first year spent in academic studies at Warwick Trident College, the following three years of the course will be work-based with day-release. Throughout the process the apprentices will gain a rich understanding of the business by working across most departments within Dematic Northern Europe’s offices in Adderbury and on customer sites.

Darren Smith, Technical Trainer and NVQ Centre Manager, heading up the engineering apprenticeship programme at Dematic, says: “The engineering skills shortage is a very real issue today and that is why Dematic is investing in its apprenticeships programme to develop new talent for the future. As an engineer that has come through the apprenticeship route, I can see the many advantages and huge value in developing home-grown talent. We have developed partnerships with local schools, such as with North Oxfordshire Academy, to tap into local talent at an early age and to offer those young people a tremendous opportunity in an exciting and dynamic industry.”

Making an early comment, Tyler Manley, Dematic Apprentice – Controls Engineering Design, says: “The whole Dematic experience has been incredible so far. I feel really welcome as an employee and I have enjoyed being shown around and being taught about what the job role entails. College has been very enjoyable, so far, as we have been very hands-on. All in all, the whole Dematic experience has been exciting and I’m really glad I got the apprenticeship.”

Also commenting, Keaton Church, Dematic Apprentice – Controls Engineering Design, says: “When I first started looking for apprenticeships, I was looking for a role that would allow me to utilise the skills that I already had from my past experience learning and working in the Motorsport industry. The Dematic apprenticeship seemed like the perfect fit, allowing me to use a lot of the skills I had already learnt, as well as gaining a wealth of new experience and knowledge on the apprenticeship side. Having now been at Warwick College for just over a month, I find myself enjoying learning new things all over again.”

DEMATIC

www.dematic.com

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