New partnership aims to bridge the gap in young engineer shortage

An initiative aiming to bridge the gap in the region 's engineer shortage has announced a new partnership intent on certifying engineering apprenticeships.

Next Gen Makers is an initiative created to remove the obstacles that cause engineering & manufacturing businesses ' investment in apprenticeships to be wasted through alongside businesses in this sector.

Working with the next generation, Next Gen Makers goes into schools and delivers workshops and factory tours aimed at showing children what it 's like to work in the industry.

In support of this vision, Next Gen Makers have partnered up with Make UK to create an innovative new way of rating engineering companies providing apprenticeships - the Kitemark.

Kitemark will identify those engineering businesses that have developed good practices with their apprentices, giving them the spotlight and appreciation they deserve for the hard work that goes into making and running a good apprenticeship programme.

It will serve as a benchmark for best practices, indicating what businesses youth should apply for so they can experience one of the best apprenticeships on the market.

To gain this certification for best practices, companies must be part of the recently launched Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme, a Make UK backed initiative designed to support manufacturers to overcome skills challenges and build talent for future success.

Adam Tipper, managing director of Next Gen Makers, announced the new Kitemark on National Manufacturing Day, Friday 1 October.

He said: “We at Next Gen Makers are determined to help engineering & manufacturing firms get the recognition they deserve as employers of choice and also get behind and support those companies that aspire to reach that level. By helping those companies get the recognition they deserve, we really are tackling the skills gap head on. ”

To find out more about Kitemark and gaining the certificate, businesses are invited to join an upcoming webinar on 19 October.

Register for the webinar via https://lnkd.in/e6p-cnUp