Manufacturing leader praises Finley Structures
A manufacturing leader has praised the work of a North-East steel firm after visiting the region.
Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF, the manufacturer’s organisation, says Finley Structures’ tradition of bringing Apprentices through their company can only help to bridge a “gaping” skills shortfall.
Mr Scuoler travelled from London to attend an apprentice reunion event at SW Durham Training (SWDT) in Newton Aycliffe, when he handed the Black and Decker award for Effort in Engineering to Finley Structures’ 18-year-old plater and welder Jake Millen.
He also praised a local initiative involving a number of Aycliffe firms, including Finley Structres, which has seen them deliver an Apprenticeship Awareness Programme to year 9 students in the town.
“We don’t have enough Apprentices coming through, so Finley Structures are helping us to head in the right direction,” said Mr Scuoler.
“We face a huge problem over the next five years, with an already gaping skills shortfall in our industry expected to increase to around 180,000 by 2017, which is alarming.
“That’s why the work of South West Durham and Finley Structures, in continuing the great tradition of Apprenticeships in the North-East, is absolutely fundamental.
“Outreach programmes are also massively important. I believe education at 15 or 16 is too late, and we need to start engaging youngsters much, much earlier.
“More and more businesses are starting to recognise that, which is why we’re seeing projects such as the Apprenticeship Awareness Programme being delivered in Aycliffe, and I hope we see more of it.”
Jake Millen joined Finley Structures in February 2012 as an apprentice Plater/Welder from South West Durham Training.
The firm’s HR manager Pauline Hadwin said: “Jake has applied himself in all aspects of his training and development resulting in him receiving this award – we’re very proud of his achievement to date and hope that he maintains his high standards.”
It was SWDT’s 45th annual awards ceremony, which was also attended by former student Gareth Berry, now vice-president of Electrolux Major Appliances.
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