News
Manufacturing leader praises Finley Structures
● EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler ( left ), Finley Structures apprentice plater Jake Millen and HR manager Pauline Hadwin
A manufacturing leader has praised our work with local schools after visiting the region . Terry Scuoler , chief executive of EEF , the manufacturer ’ s organisation , says Finley Structures ’ tradition of bringing Apprentices through their company can only help to bridge a “ gaping ” skills shortfall . Mr Scuoler travelled from London to attend an apprentice reunion event at SW Durham Training ( SWDT ) in Newton Aycliffe , when he handed the Black and Decker award for Effort in Engineering to our 18-year-old plater and welder Jake Millen . He also praised a local initiative involving a number of Aycliffe firms , including Finley Structures , which has seen them deliver an Apprenticeship Awareness Programme to year 9 students in the town . “ We don ’ t have enough Apprentices
coming through , so Finley Structures are helping us to head in the right direction ,” said Mr Scuoler . “ We face a huge problem over the next five years , with an already gaping skills shortfall in our industry expected to increase to around 180,000 by 2017 , which is alarming . “ That ’ s why the work of South West Durham and Finley Structures , in continuing the great tradition of Apprenticeships in the North-East , is absolutely fundamental . “ Outreach programmes are also massively important . I believe education at 15 or 16 is too late , and we need to start engaging youngsters much , much earlier . “ More and more businesses are starting to recognise that , which is why we ’ re seeing projects such as the Apprenticeship Awareness Programme being delivered in
“ We face a huge problem bridging the skills gap ... Finley Structures are helping us to head in the right direction ”
Terry Scuoler , chief executive , EEF
Aycliffe , and I hope we see more of it .” Jake Millen joined Finley Structures in February 2012 as an apprentice Plater / Welder from South West Durham Training . The firm ’ s HR manager Pauline Hadwin said : “ Jake has applied himself in all aspects of his training and development resulting in him receiving this award – we ’ re very proud of his achievement to date and hope that he maintains his high standards .” It was SWDT ’ s 45th annual awards ceremony , which was also attended by former student Gareth Berry , now vice-president of Electrolux Major Appliances .
Finley Structures Ltd Quarterly Newsletter Issue 5 , Winter 2012