TRAINING
Visit – Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon ( centre ) on a recent visit to Intelect in Middlesbrough with ( left to right ) project supervisor Dave Eason , managing director Fran Cormican , director Steve Gent , marketing and communications manager Lily Brothwood and director Kevan Thomas .
TRAIN TO RETAIN
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON
Intelect welcomes youngsters and a government minister as it marks 25 years of its apprenticeship scheme
For 25 years , apprentices have added energy , drive and spark to Middlesbrough engineering firm Intelect .
It was a conscious decision from the start to make apprentices a key part of Intelect . After all , company founder and MD Fran Cormican was once one himself .
So , when the firm began its apprenticeship scheme in 1998 , just a year after the company was founded , he invested time and money in it – and it ’ s a decision that has paid off handsomely .
Since then , Intelect has grown from a founding team of four to 110 , and has trained over 150 apprentices in various departments , including electrical engineering , administration and accounting .
And as his firm ’ s apprenticeship programme celebrates its silver anniversary , Fran believes it ’ s worth its weight in gold .
He said : “ Having been an apprentice , I know their value . Our ethos has always been that there ’ s no better way to grow your workforce than training your own .” Increasing numbers of apprentices join Intelect every year , with 31 currently employed at various stages of their careers .
PICTURE : CHRIS BOOTH
Visit – Intelect hosted a school visit through the Power of Women campaign
It ’ s a programme that has achieved national recognition , too . Intelect – with facilities in Middlesbrough , Humberside and Leicestershire – was recently ranked 17th in the Apprenticeships Top 50 SMEs in England .
And to mark National Apprenticeship Week , the company not only received visits from 60 young people – potential Intelect workers of the future , perhaps – but also from the Minister for Apprenticeships , Skills and Higher Education , Robert Halfon .
During his visit , Mr Halfon chatted with past and present Intelect apprentices , including Dave Brown , one of the company ’ s first apprentices , along with Dave Eason , Lee Robson , Ben Robinson and Ella Tebble – all highlighting how the company ’ s ‘ train to retain ’ ethos has helped combat the challenge of skills shortages over the years .
Mr Halfon said : “ Intelect has put apprentices at the heart of its development and provided a ladder of opportunity to more than 150 local people over the past 25 years via apprenticeships , investing in the skills of the next generation in Middlesbrough .
“ Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for businesses to recruit and train talented workers and really help drive social mobility in regions like Teesside . With companies like Intelect , we truly are building a skills and apprenticeships nation .”
The youngsters ’ visits saw a range of primary and college students gain a glimpse into potential future career opportunities right on their doorstep .
As part of a wider strategy to encourage greater diversity within the engineering industry , Intelect also invited Year 5 and Year 6 Power of Women ambassadors from Pennyman Primary in Middlesbrough and St Bede ’ s Catholic Academy in Stockton .
The Power of Women campaign aims to inspire and encourage primary school pupils that there are no limitations to their future , no matter their gender , race or postcode .
Intelect ’ s marketing and communications manager , Lily Brothwood , said it was vital to give young people an insight into the world of work .
“ As the saying goes , ‘ you can ’ t be what you can ’ t see ’. Intelect have always been dedicated to supporting and inspiring young people , and we have seen the benefits of this through the long-term success of our apprenticeship programme ,” said Lily .
“ Early intervention is now imperative when it comes to igniting a spark in the next generation , which is why we are particularly focused on promoting the engineering sector to primary school children .”
All of which reflects Mr Cormican ’ s attitude to the value of apprenticeships – both for young people and more experienced workers .
He said : “ Apprenticeships are a vital tool when it comes to driving innovation and growth , and they should be on every employer ’ s agenda .
“ We will continue to be an advocate for them as we understand the benefits these opportunities can provide – not only to the people completing them , but to the business too .”
After taking on a record number of apprentices in 2022 , Intelect will open applications for its next intake this summer .
For more about Intelect , visit intelectuk . com
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