The Benefits of Taking on an Apprentice
Apprenticeships can help engineering businesses develop new talent, address skills shortages and create a workforce shaped around their future requirements.
Why Are More Employers Choosing Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships provide businesses with a practical route for recruiting new people and continuing the professional development of existing employees.
Since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017, more businesses across Oxfordshire and the wider country have considered apprenticeships as a way to bring new talent into their organisation and support continued professional development.
Engineering has a particularly strong history of apprenticeship training. Although funding models and programme structures have changed, apprentices have helped engineering businesses address skills gaps for many years.
Many managers and business owners working with Engineering Trust Training began their own careers as apprentices. They are now using apprenticeship funding to offer similar opportunities to a new generation while building the talent needed within their businesses.
What Can an Apprentice Bring to Your Organisation?
Apprenticeships can support recruitment, retention, succession planning and the development of technical skills.
Develop Your Own Talent
Train people around the specific machinery, processes, standards and working methods used within your business.
Address Skills Shortages
Build technical capability internally when experienced engineers and technicians are difficult to recruit.
Create a Talent Pipeline
Develop employees who can progress into skilled, specialist or leadership roles as your organisation grows.
Support Existing Staff
Use apprenticeships for professional development, new competencies or progression into a different career path.
Strengthen Retention
Give employees a structured development route and a stronger connection to the long-term future of the organisation.
Develop Mentors
Supporting an apprentice can help experienced employees strengthen their coaching, leadership and communication skills.
Building Engineering Talent in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire faces a shortage of skilled engineers and technicians across a number of specialist trades.
High employment levels and the cost of living can make it difficult for businesses to attract experienced talent from outside the region.
For many employers, the most effective answer is to develop talent internally by training apprentices in the specialist skills, processes and standards their business requires.
SRD Engineering
A Bicester-based engineering business using apprenticeships to develop skilled people and support long-term growth.
Precision Engineering at the Forefront of UK Manufacturing
SRD Engineering is a high-quality precision engineering business based in Bicester. It has built a strong reputation for precision work across industries including aerospace, Formula One, medical, oil and gas, and food manufacturing.
The business was established by three CNC machinists in 1989. Their aim was to use their knowledge and experience to create one of the strongest machine shops in the area.
Continued growth has seen the company expand to more than 70 skilled employees. Ongoing investment in technology and people has enabled the business to meet demand for high-tolerance machining and maintain high standards of quality.
What Does This Have to Do With Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeship development has played an important role across SRD Engineering and throughout its leadership team.
SRD’s Production Manager, Operations Manager, Cell Team Leaders, Managing Directors and Chairman all began their careers as apprentices.
Many members of the management team have progressed through the business and understand first-hand the value of developing people internally.
Alongside its investment in advanced technology, SRD has invested in employee development. The business recognised the decline in experienced machinists and the limited availability of skilled local candidates.
In response, SRD created an in-house training programme for new and existing employees. During a five-year period, the business recruited five apprentices and four trainees, representing a considerable investment for a small or medium-sized employer.
Combining practical workplace training with technical learning allows apprentices to gain recognised qualifications while developing the precise skills required by the business.
Workplace Experience
Apprentices gain practical experience using the company’s equipment, systems and production processes.
Technical Learning
College training supports the theory, knowledge and broader technical understanding required for the role.
Recognised Qualifications
Apprentices work towards a professional qualification while developing useful, business-specific skills.
Future Workforce
This combined approach creates a strong internal talent pool for future skilled and leadership positions.
The Benefits SRD Has Experienced
Mark Bonham, Director at SRD Engineering, explained how the organisation benefits from its apprenticeship programme.
“With the intensive training our apprentices receive through our in-house training and via the colleges, we find that their learning curve happens at a fast rate.
This means we have apprentices who develop skills quickly, often becoming more highly skilled than many long-standing employees within only a few years.
We aim to have apprentices fully skilled in machining and programming within five years.
“SRD will continue to employ apprentices because it provides our business with an affordable, lower-risk employment programme.
It gives us time to train people in our way and develop them around exactly what the company requires.
In return, the apprentice has an excellent opportunity to gain experience, build skills and progress through the business.
How ETT Works With SRD
A flexible apprenticeship model helps ensure the programme complements SRD’s own high-quality in-house training.
SRD’s experience reflects the needs of many highly skilled employers. The business invests significant time in training and requires an apprenticeship provider that can work flexibly around its operations and technical requirements.
Engineering Trust Training provides flexibility in how the programme is managed, how apprentices access college training and how the company training plan is developed, assessed and delivered.
Our Training Officers maintain regular contact with each apprentice and use their own engineering experience to provide relevant, high-quality support.
The objective is to help produce capable apprentices who are ready to contribute to SRD’s continued success.
Flexible Delivery
Training is structured around the needs of the employer, apprentice and apprenticeship standard.
College Coordination
ETT manages access to suitable college provision and supports communication between all parties.
Company Training Plans
Workplace learning is planned and monitored alongside formal apprenticeship requirements.
Engineering Expertise
Training Officers bring sector knowledge and practical engineering experience to apprentice reviews.
Build the Skills Your Business Needs
Speak to our employer team about recruitment, apprenticeship funding, training options and how we can support your business throughout the programme.