Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 35 | Seite 17

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 17
Pictured (left to right): Business
apprentice Laura Pickford, electrical
tutor Ryan Blewitt, general
manager Jason Howe, school
liaison and careers officer Matt
Gatiss, BTEC & higher education
coordinator Brian Corker and Andy
Dunn, Chair of SWDT executive
council.
Apprenticeship
award for South West
Durham Training
S
WDT was nominated by businesses
on Aycliffe Business Park for
the Apprenticeship and Training
Award, sponsored by Gestamp, for
implementing an apprenticeship scheme as an
integral part of developing its workforce.
The 400-hectare business park is home to
more than 500 businesses employing around
10,000 people and its fourth annual Make Your
Mark Awards ceremony at The Xcel Centre.
SWDT, which marked its 50th anniversary last
December with a big ceremony of its own led by
BBC Breakfast’s Steph McGovern, is well known
for training apprentices for other companies. But
it also employs its own apprentices.
Laura Pickford, 17, from Barnard Castle,
joined on an 18-month level 3 apprenticeship in
business administration in March.
She said: “I’m still learning the important
academic skills necessary for the role, but I’m
also getting to know the ropes of the office,
doing general admin jobs, data cleaning,
printing, filing and dealing with people on the
phone, and I’m loving it.”
SWDT general manager Jason Howe said:
“The award is special as it is nominated and
judged by companies on the Aycliffe Business
Park.
“It is great recognition for the continued hard
work and commitment of our staff and fantastic
students.
“We are obviously enthusiastic exponents
of apprenticeships, and we keep in touch with
many of our former apprentices who have gone
on to have very rewarding careers in industry.
“Our message to the region’s employers is
continue to invest in apprentices – our future
workforce.”
Engineering training provider
South West Durham Training is
celebrating after winning an award
for its apprenticeship scheme.
Former apprentice urges
girls to consider engineering
Y
oung women are being
encouraged to consider a
career in engineering by a former
apprentice who has enjoyed
a decade at a global science
company.
Lisa Fletcher, an advanced
manufacturing engineer at 3M’s
Newton Aycliffe plant, met girls
from Bishop Auckland’s King
James 1st Academy during a tour
of South West Durham Training.
Pictured above (left to right) are students Rebecca
The visit was arranged to
Jacob, Katie Bennett and Melisa Littlewood with
3M’s Lisa Fletcher.
mark International Women in
Engineering Day, held in July. The
annual celebration of the achievements
qualified as a multi-skilled maintainer at
of outstanding women engineers aims
3M.
to raise awareness of the huge range of
“An apprenticeship gave me much
opportunities for young women in the
more than hands on practical skills;
sector.
it was communication, teamwork,
Year 10 students Rebecca Jacob, Katie technical knowledge and problem
Bennett and Melisa Littlewood, who will
solving.”
next year take their GCSE exams, are all
3M, which employs 400 people in
considering careers in engineering.
Newton Aycliffe, manufactures reusable
Lisa, who was an engineering
and disposable respirators and car care
apprentice at South West Durham
products including finishing compounds
Training ten years ago, told them her
and polishes.
apprenticeship had prepared her well for
It has a long-standing relationship
her career.
with SWDT, and currently has seven
She said: “I was able to gain excellent
apprentices in maintenance engineering,
skills throughout my apprenticeship,
mechanical and electrical with the
which set me in good stead as I
training provider.