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Catapult Network: Apprentices

Answer

The Catapult network does not have a formal policy on apprenticeships, but many Catapults have developed schemes to support this approach and funding has been provided for the building of state-of-the-art facilities for training apprentices in two locations.

The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, which is due to open in September 2015, will address the manufacturing skills shortage by training engineering apprentices on a sponsored or part-sponsored basis, up-skilling manufacturing engineers and developing graduate engineers and industrial designers.

The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Training Centre provides training in the practical and academic skills that manufacturing companies need to compete globally, from apprenticeship through to doctorate and MBA level.

The High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult currently has 93 apprentices directly employed across its seven centres. This figure does not include those being trained on behalf of industry, which currently number over 250 and will increase next year. The full breakdown is:-

HVM Centre	Number of Apprentices	Under 19	19-24	24+
Advanced Forming Research Centre	3	0	3	0
Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre	14	10	4	0
Centre for Process Innovation	6	3	2	1
Manufacturing Technology Centre	58	25	33	0
National Composites Centre	8	4	4	0
Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre	4	1	2	1
Warwick Manufacturing Group	0	0	0	0
Total	93	43	48	2

The Centre for Process Innovation is currently recruiting an additional three apprentices and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre is currently recruiting an additional two.

There are three apprentices currently entering their second year of a modern apprenticeship with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. The Catapult is building a plan around future recruitment to consider building and continuing this pool of talent.

There is also one apprentice with the Transport Systems Catapult. The Catapult is also employing a number of interns from Cranfield University over the summer and has some individuals completing their thesis.

The Cell Therapy Catapult does not have any current apprentices, but the Cell Therapy Catapult Manufacturing Centre, which is due to open in 2017, will create up to 150 jobs directly, including apprenticeships.

The Digital Catapult does not have any current apprentices, but is committed to a diverse workforce and, to date, has hosted six work experience placements and a first cohort of paid interns started this month. The Catapult is in discussions with Tech City Stars about apprenticeships and researching other partnerships over the next few months.

No apprentices are employed at the Future Cities Catapult, although there is one intern, and the Catapult is about to launch an open intern scheme which will be advertised on its website. They are looking at opportunities to develop and grow talent pools at all levels and will be looking at the offer of apprenticeships as part of this review.

No apprentices are employed at the Satellite Applications Catapult, but the Catapult is looking to develop a scheme in future years.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4605

Session

2015-16

Subjects

Apprentices Catapult Network

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk