Eriks has revealed that its most recent engineering apprenticeship received 500 applications from young people eager to pursue a career in engineering.
There have been calls from the industry to increase the number of young people being offered apprenticeships to help fill the severe lack of engineering talent that many companies now face. The popularity of Eriks’ most recent call for applications proves that the industry is on the right track when it comes to attracting new talent.
While 500 individuals applied for the apprenticeship, 13 apprentices aged between 17 and 27 were taken on by Eriks and will now pursue a Level 3 Engineering qualification. The applicants are located throughout the country, with the firm hoping to foster a new generation of engineers and bridge the engineering skills gap.
Created from the ground up by Lori Broadhurst, Talent Development Partner at Eriks, the programme represents an investment of £30,000 per apprentice. The aim, according to Lori is to “Futureproof the company’s workforce by not only nurturing career-specific skills but also fostering a sense of community among apprentices.”
While the apprentices will primarily hone their skills at their respective sites, they will gather every four to six weeks for ‘block release learning’ at SMB College in Leicester, ensuring a well-rounded formal engineering education as well as a practical, hands-on one.
The selection process was rigorous, involving CV screenings, telephone interviews, and in-person assessments, culminating in an ‘Insight Day’ where candidates experienced the Eriks work environment firsthand.
While this, the inaugural year focuses on engineering apprenticeships, Eriks plans to expand the programme into other areas such as sales, service, supply chain management, finance, and human resources in the future.
As the November 2024 application cycle approaches, Eriks is committed to refining its selection process, incorporating psychometric testing and behavioural analysis to ensure fairness and objectivity.
In the long term, the company aims to broaden its early career development offerings including a graduate programme and other initiatives. Lori concludes, “We are establishing this programme to make it as successful as possible, paving the way for the future.”