Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Issue 44

N EWS ADVICE VA LU E BLO C K E RS H S2 : HITAC HI A N D B O MB A R D I E R B I D T O B U I L D T R A I NS T wo UK-based rail giants are submitting a ‘Great British’ train proposal to High Speed Two (HS2) that would be the most advanced, customer-oriented train ever to run in the UK. The contract, worth £2.75billion, is to design, build and maintain at least 54 trains for Phase One of HS2. Hitachi has pioneered Japan’s world-renowned Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’ while Bombardier offers a depth of international experience from its high speed trains operating in Europe and on the world’s largest network in China. In 2015, the two companies together delivered the Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) ETR1000 for Trenitalia, which is the fastest yet quietest in- service high speed train in Europe. Operating at speeds up to 225 mph, it has transformed passenger experience and connectivity across Italy. Its success has been recognised by Trenitalia placing a further order in June 2019 for 14 new trains, increasing Frecciarossa high speed services across Italy. Hitachi Rail’s managing director Karen Boswell OBE said: “Hitachi-Bombardier’s Great British train for HS2 would be a shining example of British ingenuity. Our bid, if successful, would bring significant benefits for economies and communities, while truly transforming connectivity and passenger experience.” Bombardier’s UK president Phil Hufton said: “HS2 is this generation’s chance to transform our country. Our Great British train will connect our great cities and improve the journeys of every passenger. HS2’s vision is to be a catalyst for growth across Britain – we are ready to make that happen.” Alongside London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, HS2 services will also serve destinations beyond the core HS2 network, including York, Newcastle, Liverpool, the North West, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Having delivered the hugely popular Javelin HS1 fleet in advance of the 2012 London Games, Hitachi is delivering major orders for new trains, with 286 due to be in service by the end of 2021. The firm’s purpose-built factory on Aycliffe Business Park is delivering 122 new high speed trains as part of the UK Government’s £5.7bn Intercity Express Programme and a fleet of 70 regional trains for Scotland. UTC STU DENT SE CU R ES A PPR ENT ICES H I P W I T H BT S U TC South Durham student Stephen Henry has secured a competitive degree apprenticeship with BTS Facades and Fabrications, a Newton Aycliffe-based company which manufactures high-quality facade and rain-screen products. Year 13 student Stephen joined UTC South Durham in 2016 and achieved excellent GCSE results before continuing to study A Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science. He has secured a Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with BTS and will start in September 2020, splitting his time between BTS and Teesside University. “I am excited about starting at BTS and looking forward to the new challenge and what the future holds,” said Stephen. BTS managing director Phil Atkinson said: “We are confident that Stephen will prove to be a valuable member of our expanding team and look forward to working with him for many years to come.” As part of National Apprenticeship Week, UTC South Durham supported the event by hosting launches for Hydram, Costain and Gestamp’s apprenticeship schemes, organising a careers fair with over 30 employers from the local area and taking students on visits to local businesses, including Husqvarna and SMJ. Apprenticeships are a popular pathway for UTC students with 66% of Year 13 leavers in 2019 securing paid higher or advanced level apprenticeships (the national schools average is 7%). Learning Curve Group CEO Brenda McLeish gives her top five key blockers preventing employers from getting value from the apprenticeship levy… #1 My staff aren’t eligible for an apprenticeship There are so many misconceptions around that apprenticeships need to be either new starter or new to the jobs market. Employers are not against the levy in principle, but for many they simply don’t believe the system provides the right type of training they need. The upshot is staff can be an apprentice at any age and at any stage of their career. #2 Apprenticeships are just not relevant for our business There are over 500 programmes available to employers and a large percentage that could help fill skills gaps and more! Albeit, there are still some gaps in apprenticeship provision, but clever use of the apprenticeship levy can give businesses the ability to cover skills development. #3 The 20% off-the-job training requirement is too much The majority of employers see the 20% off-the-job requirements as old fashioned ‘day release’ to a learning institution and that they couldn’t afford to lose a member of staff for the equivalent of one working day a week. We offer a model with no day release opting instead to place our coaches in the workplace. #4 The system is far too complicated The complexity of the system prevents businesses from engaging with it, but our account management services can help take away the stresses of dealing with the levy system. #5 Staff are not interested Employers struggle to get staff to engage with apprenticeships, many organisations have called for the apprenticeship levy to be renamed ‘training levy’. However, time would be much better served changing perceptions of who can be an apprentice and all the benefits to staff both professionally to the business and personally to them and their wider skills. Brenda McLeish CEO, Learning Curve Group The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 23

Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Issue 44 | Page 23