The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 15
BBC Breakfast presenter Steph presented SWDT apprentices with their end-of-year awards .
Mind the gap – Steph McGoven is warning firms about a “ real ” skills gap .
SWDT ’ s current centre manager , Jason Howe , said : “ Steph is a fantastic advocate for vocational training and apprenticeships . Three of our award winners were female , so we ’ re seeing an increase and it ’ s very encouraging to see them on an equal playing field .”
He added : “ I ’ m very proud to be manager of SWDT at this time .
“ What we want to do now is sustain and maintain its legacy and the work we do with employers . But we are starting to see more growth across apprenticeships and commercial training .”
More than 100 employers joined current and past students and staff of SWDT at the event , held on the 50th anniversary of the official launch of the centre by WWII RAF fighter pilot Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader in 1967 .
SWDT has had more than 10,000 young engineers through its doors over its 50 year history , many of whom work in senior positions as far afield as Australia , the US , China and Dubai . Alumni include the
Chief Executive of Gatwick Airport Stewart Wingate , the MD of car parts maker Nifco UK Mike Matthews MBE and comedian Vic Reeves .
Today the centre works with major employers across the North-East , including Hitachi Rail , GSK , Husqvarna , 3M and Thorn Lighting , as well as Cummins in Darlington , Richmond-based Pipeline Engineering , part of the multinational Circor Group , Ebac , MTE and Nifco UK in Stockton .
Other speakers at the event included chair of the County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network David Land , an apprentice at SWDT in the 1970s , and Dave Allison , who was among the first intake of apprentices in 1967 before returning in 1973 as an instructor . He stayed for a further 40 years before retiring in 2013 .
Former Gestamp Tallent boss Land said : “ South West Durham is a known entity and has been for 50 years , and it ’ s still highly regarded .
“ I think the future for training providers is strong . They need to be flexible , not just a one-track pony , it ’ s about being able to adapt .
“ Businesses are going to face challenges but it ’ s about being able to adapt and keep pace with modern technology .”
Apprenticeship packages and commercial programmes are tailored to the demands of these and other local employers , with training offered from Level 1 and 2 through to higher education provision at Level 4 and 5 . SWDT was the first training centre in the country to gain Centre of Vocational
Excellence status in 2002 . The Chief Inspector of Adult Learning in his annual report that year described SWDT as ‘ world class ’.
In 2014 Ofsted graded SWDT as ‘ outstanding ’ in all four areas : overall effectiveness , outcomes for learners , quality of teaching , learning and assessment , and effectiveness of leadership and management . It was the first member of the Group Training Association of England ever to have received an outstanding grade across all areas of provision . The same year saw the launch of a partnership between Bishop Auckland College and SWDT .
Andy Dunn from Nifco , who is chair of the SWDT board and also spoke at the ceremony , said afterwards : “ This has been a fitting celebration for South West Durham Training ’ s 50th anniversary – it was great to see so many employers here – many of whom are former apprentices themselves . “ We are looking forward to a positive future , with ambitious plans to increase both the range of provision offered and learner numbers over the next few years to help local employers tackle talent gaps .”