Rolls-Royce opens new Apprentice Academy
The facility will provide capacity for Rolls-Royce to double the number of apprentices it trains. The additional apprentices will find work in the supply chain, providing an additional source of skilled labour to the UK engineering and manufacturing industry.
The facility, which spans three floors, includes a 1,200 square metre workshop area featuring the latest machines, which enables apprentices to be trained on the same equipment they will be using in the workplace.
The Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, officially opened the Rolls-Royce Apprentice Academy. He was accompanied by Colin Smith, Rolls-Royce, Director of Engineering and Technology, at a ceremony attended by employees, apprentices, suppliers and representatives of local education establishments. The Chancellor toured the new Academy and met apprentices who are currently learning about the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 aero engine, which powers the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Chancellor also spoke with supply chain companies who will benefit from the training provided at the Academy.
George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Excellence in engineering is what countries like Britain need if we are to win the global race that we are in. Apprenticeships and the new engineering qualifications that we are announcing today help us achieve that, by giving young people the skills that they want and that businesses and the economy need.
"I am pleased to take part in the opening of the new Rolls-Royce Apprentice Academy which will also benefit suppliers in small and medium sized manufacturing."
Colin Smith, Rolls-Royce, Director of Engineering and Technology, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Chancellor to Rolls-Royce to celebrate the opening of our new Apprentice Academy. We set the highest standards, both in educating our people and in delivering the most efficient products in the industry for our customers. What we do is exciting and it’s great that this new Academy will offer access to state-of-the-art facilities and training to a wider range of young people who are beginning their careers in engineering."
Rolls-Royce has been training apprentices for over 100 years, and the Group's apprenticeship programme is an industry leader; awarded Beacon Status by the Learning & Skills Improvement Service and OFSTED graded the programme as outstanding in all areas. Ninety-eight per cent of its apprentices successfully complete their training compared with a 74% national average and many go on to senior roles within the organisation (20% of its current stable of senior managers in the UK started their careers as Rolls-Royce apprentices).
