Industry giants Sellafield, BMW and Airbus are among the major engineering companies to recruit talent from a training scheme to prepare learners for a career in the engineering construction industry.
The ECITB’s Introduction to Engineering Construction Course (ITEC) is a 10-month programme preparing learners for apprenticeships and other roles in the industry. Funded by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and delivered by 11 colleges and training providers across England, the ITEC equips young people with the skills, qualifications and behaviours to prepare them for employment.
Since successfully completing the ITEC in June, more than fifty learners have already progressed into apprenticeships. And with 92% of the 154 participants completing the ITEC, many more are set to progress into work, apprenticeship or higher education. Last year, 69% of ITEC learners progressed into related jobs or further training.
Chris Claydon, Chief Executive of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, said: “The number and stature of the companies recruiting from our pool of graduates show the value of the ITEC course to industry and is a ringing endorsement of the work of our training providers.
“The programme gives youngsters a solid grounding to commence a career in a wide range of engineering disciplines, and we want more engineering construction employers to benefit from this talent pool.
“The demand for new recruits to the engineering construction workforce is set to rise significantly over the next decade and the ECITB ITEC Programme will pay its part in helping to fill that skills gap.”
Donna Connor, Head of Education and Skills at Sellafield Ltd, said: “Having access to ITEC learners broadens our recruitment options, and a real plus point is these young people now have a better idea of what type of engineer they want to become.
“It’s also great for the wider community as those who don’t secure an apprenticeship first time round are encouraged to continue to develop and enhance their engineering skills, so that they stand a stronger chance in the future.”
Launched in 2015 to offset the drop in apprenticeships offered across the industry, the ECITB ITEC offers all of the year one components of a formal apprenticeship and is equivalent to the first year of a Level 3 apprenticeship. Learners gain a nationally-recognised engineering knowledge qualification, 10 weeks of practical skills training and the industry standard CCNSG safety passport.
