Paralloy ’ s joy at securing apprenticeship scheme gold standard
ENGINEERING
Made of steel – apprentices at Paralloy . The firm has achieved gold standard accreditation from
Next Gen Makers .
STEEL FIRM WINS GOLD
Paralloy ’ s joy at securing apprenticeship scheme gold standard
A
thriving Tees steel firm has struck gold with its approach to developing engineers of the future .
Paralloy Group , which employs around 470 people in Middlesbrough and Billingham as part of its 1,000-strong European workforce , is committed to a robust and developing apprenticeship scheme .
Its approach has now been recognised with gold standard accreditation from Next Gen Makers – a support platform and national community that helps employers futureproof their workforces by developing and maintaining successful apprenticeship schemes .
Paralloy designs and produces specialist stainless steel products at its Teesside sites and currently has 15 apprentices on its books .
But by teaming up with Next Gen Makers , the company believes it can bring in more while ensuring those already with Paralloy get the best possible development of their engineering careers .
Lucy Hickerman , of Next Gen Makers , explained : “ There is a huge skills gap in engineering that ’ s getting wider and wider – we ’ re around 186,000 young engineers short every year .
“ There ’ s also an attrition rate in the sector of 60 %, which suggests that even when you can attract talent and take them on as apprentices , it ’ s hard to keep them .
“ We feel organisations of all sizes don ’ t have to accept that – there are solutions out there and amongst us all , we ’ ve got the answers , so we need to share that and work together as a sector and this problem will get easier for everyone .”
To reach Next Gen Makers ’ gold standard , businesses start with a benchmarking questionnaire , which indicates where they are compared to best practice .
They then create a best practice programme – helped by a collaborative community of engineering and manufacturing firms , from small SMEs to major multinationals , who all have the desire to improve and invest in their apprentice schemes and learn from others . Once the scheme ’ s working well , they can apply for accreditation .
Lucy said : “ It ’ s a sign of an excellent employer so that young people , their parents , guardians and teachers know an organisation is reaching a certain standard when it comes to apprenticeships .”
Crucially , the apprentices themselves are surveyed about how well their employer is doing – a key factor in the final grade .
Paralloy HR manager Ian Grimes told Tees Business : “ We are delighted to secure the gold standard but wouldn ’ t be resting on its laurels , with the standard reassessed each year .
“ We always set ourselves high targets and as much as we wanted to achieve it , we were mindful there were improvements we still want to make within the business and our apprenticeship scheme – things like better mentoring arrangements and encouraging more dialogue with management .
“ We ’ ve come on leaps and bounds and are very pleased to have reached the gold standard on our first attempt , but we are far from finished , with much more still yet to come .
“ To help us achieve our goals we ’ ve connected with Next Gen partners to discuss several future initiatives , like creating our own skills academy .
Visit paralloy . co . uk
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON
“ One of the benefits of this collaborative group , is you expand your network with like-minded individuals , all working toward a shared goal .”
As well as retaining its gold standard , Paralloy is looking to enhance its relationship with local schools and colleges .
Hartlepool College , for example , has provided several of the recent cohort , while a scholarship scheme with Middlesbrough College is also on the cards .
And with the sum cost of a failed apprenticeship between £ 80,000 and £ 300,000 , and one in three apprenticeships failing , it makes economic sense to have a scheme that not only attracts apprentices but keeps them on board .
Ian added : “ Whether we ’ re lucky enough to be able to retain them is one thing but even if we ’ re just supplying into that pool , it allows for a future in engineering – as a future without engineers would be very bleak .
“ One of the way ’ s we ’ re going to address these issues at Paralloy is by looking at employer best practice and growing our talent from within .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 67