Siemens has announced that in September 2012 its intake of UK apprentices will be 160, double the figure hired last year.
For the first time in decades the number of new UK apprentices at the company is now higher than that of graduates. Graduate intake has remained steady at around 100 per year. Siemens is now recruiting similar levels of apprentices in the UK compared to Germany where the company has its global headquarters and an established, strong culture of apprenticeships.
On 24th May, deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg and secretary of state for business, Vince Cable, visited Siemens Gas Turbine Plant in Berlin. The ministers toured the factory and met Siemens apprentices.
Clegg commented, “This announcement is fantastic news. Apprenticeships give young people an invaluable opportunity to learn on the job and allow employers like Siemens to build a workforce with the practical skills their business needs.
“It is a telling fact that Sir William Siemens himself, who founded Siemens in the UK 169 years ago, progressed from the shop floor to the top floor, having started his career as an apprentice.”
Cable added, “I warmly welcome the announcement. Siemens has an excellent record in vocational training and like us they recognise that apprenticeships can take talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the boardrooms of our top British companies.
“In the past, vocational youngsters have been let down by weak courses which wasted their time and taxpayers’ money. This government is determined to improve the quality of vocational training and our trip to Germany will be used as a fact finding mission to look at what we can learn from our neighbours.
“Creating the right conditions to revive UK manufacturing is central to this government’s mission as it will help create long term growth that is balanced between sectors and across the country.
“For too long the UK economy has been too focused on the City of London so I am particularly delighted that these jobs will be created across the country in factories and offices in Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Poole, Llanberis, Oxford and Lincoln.”
Roland Aurich, CEO Siemens and North West Europe commented, “Creating industry ready skills and giving the confidence of aspiration to young people from all walks of life, is critical to address the serious skills shortage we face in industry.”
“At Siemens we support the UK government’s efforts to rebalance the economy with an increased focus on manufacturing and engineering. The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, which was launched yesterday in Berlin, will also contribute to this important shift.”
Siemens’ new intake of UK apprentices will be based at offices and factories around the country from Motherwell in Scotland and Llanberis in Wales to Newcastle, Lincoln, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Eynsham and Poole.
More than half of the new apprentices will take up roles in the Energy Sector, 36 will join Siemens wind power services business with many others also benefiting from the growth and investment in renewable energy and green technology in the UK.
Toby Peyton-Jones, director of Human Resources at Siemens and North West Europe said, “We see apprenticeships as a great career path that can lead all the way to the top and the fact that in September 2012 we are taking on more apprentices than graduates for the first time in many years, shows that vocational route is regaining its rightful place in the aspirations of our young people in the UK.”
