Hallam uses state-of-the-art CNC machinery in its foundry, machining centre and powder coating factory and apprentices trained at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) are a key element of the workforce needed to work with this type of equipment.
Recruitment is facilitated by the AMRC, which invites applications from prospective apprentices and helps to evaluate and screen applicants on behalf of employers. This service in its own right is enormously helpful for employers. Selected apprentices are then trained jointly at the AMRC and employer’s premises and should achieve the EAL level 3 extended diploma and BTEC level 3 diploma in engineering within 3 years. EAL is part of Semta – the Science, Engineering, Manufacturing and Technologies Alliance – which is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for engineering skills for the future of the UK’s most advanced sectors.
AMRC Apprentices are now able to progress to University of Sheffield foundation degree level within a further 2 4 months and achieve the University’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering within a further 20 months. Hallam has three apprentices in training at the AMRC currently, one of whom is now progressing to full degree level.
Two of the three were nominated for the AMRC’s “Apprentice of the Year” awards in 2017 and 2018, competing against apprentices from Rolls Royce and Siemens, and one was successful in achieving an award.
Hallam intends to continue to train all its employees at the AMRC as the basis of its skills updating and succession planning and is currently recruiting a further two apprentices for the March 2019 intake.