by Amey is getting youth on right track with apprenticeships
9:43am Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in Latest News
Apprenticeships with one of the UK’s leading rail services companies are helping to get Swindon’s youth on the right track.
Over the last two years, Amey has taken on four apprentices at its offices in Station Road, Swindon where the company delivers consulting and design services for Network Rail.
The apprentices, aged 17 to 24, have been given the opportunity to work on engineering, signal design and structural examination projects. They are receiving practical training and gaining further qualifications as well as taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. On successful completion of the 18-month programme they are guaranteed a job with Amey.
Amey currently has 120 apprentices nationwide aged between 18 and 25, representing one per cent of the national workforce. It aims to double this figure to two per cent this year through its Apprenticeship Academy, a national scheme to create jobs for young people and develop future managers and technical specialists.
All Amey apprentices study at local colleges for professional qualifications (NVQ) while undertaking paid work and participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Business Scheme (Gold Award).
In the current economic climate it is not sufficient to rely on one talent or skill, therefore Amey has set out to help develop the ‘whole person’, which is why its apprenticeship scheme includes personal development as well as practical and academic training.
Swindon apprentice Sam Demuth, 18, joined Amey as a trainee signal designer after leaving the Army.
“Job-wise it’s tough out there,” he said. “To be part of such an amazing apprenticeship scheme where we work towards other qualifications as well as learn practical skills is great. I hope to be working at Amey for a long time and definitely recommend the apprenticeship route.”
Trainee engineer Christine Barnes, who is 24 and lives in Old Town, Swindon said: “I’ve had opportunities at Amey that I don’t think I’d have found anywhere else. The skills and confidence I have gained are invaluable and helped me focus on building a solid career.”
Around 20 per cent of Amey’s learning and development budget has been invested in the Amey Apprenticeship Academy. The success of the programme is evaluated in various ways plus the growth and development in confidence of the young people working in Amey. The company is proud of its high 94 per cent retention rate which demonstrates the scheme’s quality.
Mel Ewell, Chief Executive of Amey, said: “With youth unemployment at record levels of over one million, as a responsible employer,we are doing everything it can to help young people get through what is a challenging jobs market.
“We are proud to be helping young people fulfil not only their professional potential but also their personal potential.”
Paul Champion
Strategic Project Manager
Mobile: 07540 704920
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