New apprenticeship quiz helps young people get on the right career path

Published:  16 February, 2016

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has launched a new Apprenticeship Matching Quiz to help young people find the right apprenticeship for their interests and skills. The move will enable many more young people to set off on the right career path and comes as EEF expands its apprenticeship programme to include Higher Apprenticeships for the very first time. 

The Apprenticeship Matching Quiz is free, simple and quick to take online. It can be used by young people themselves or by parents, teachers or career advisors looking to help them. The quiz asks straightforward questions about preferences and aptitudes to identify the apprenticeship that best suits each individual.

The quiz is part of EEF’s dedicated apprentice website – www.eef.org.uk/apprentices – which also contains advice, information and user-friendly guides, ranging from searching and applying for an apprenticeship through to interview tips. Would-be apprentices can also apply directly for an apprenticeship through the site.

Its launch is part of a wider drive to encourage a greater number of talented young people into the sector and comes at a vital time. EEF is looking to recruit 300 apprentices by September this year and is working with a number of leading companies, such as Jaguar Land Rover, Severn Trent Water, Ishida Europe, Tarmac, Kerry Foods, Ibstock Brick and many more, to fill their apprentice vacancies.

EEF has also just expanded its apprenticeship programme to include Higher Apprenticeships for the very first time. Higher Apprenticeships are aimed at those with A-levels and lead to a degree. This makes them a viable alternative to university and a good choice for many young people who want to ‘earn and learn’ – gaining a degree while earning an income and picking up valuable work skills and experience.

EEF has a strong track record of supporting manufacturing and engineering apprenticeships. It opened its state-of-the-art technology training centre in Aston, near Birmingham, in 2014 and recently invested a further £2 million into it. This provided nine additional new training sections, containing £700,000 of high-tech equipment, including a new robotics cell with four fully-functional, industrial-scale robots.

Neil Withey, EEF Technology Training Centre Director, says: “We are committed to encouraging greater numbers of talented young people into manufacturing and engineering. This quiz is just one of many steps we are taking to ensure young people are aware of and have access to the wealth of apprenticeship opportunities in our sector.

“We have invested significantly in our state-of-the-art technology training centre and have pledged to recruit 300 new apprentices by September this year. The range of opportunities has become bigger still, as we are also expanding our apprenticeship programme to now include Higher Apprenticeships.

“Higher Apprenticeships offer a viable and exciting new path to gaining a degree. The concept of ‘earning and learning’ will appeal to many young people and parents, who will see the value of gaining an important qualification, without incurring debt and while learning valuable workplace skills. It’s a win-win for the apprentice, their employer and for our industry, which is why it’s vital we are able to get the message out there.”

To find out more about apprenticeships in manufacturing and engineering, visit www.eef.org.uk/apprentices or call 0121 331 3930.

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