Deputy Prime-Minister visits The University of Sheffield's pioneering apprenticeship training centre

Deputy Prime-Minister Nick Clegg MP has made a private visit to a brand new apprentice training centre designed to support UK high-value manufacturing and to provide the next generation of world-leading engineers.

Part of the Universitys world-leading Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the AMRC Training Centre opened to its first cohort of over 150 technical apprentices in January. The apprentices who are aged 16 and over are sponsored by employers ranging from smaller manufacturing companies to major companies such as Rolls-Royce.

The Deputy Prime-Minister was guided around the state of the art facilities by the apprentices themselves, hearing at first hand their experiences of hands-on education within a world-class University research centre, which also offers progression routes in due course through part-time degrees on to postgraduate study and even PhDs.

According to Training Centre Director Alison Bettac,“The apprentices were really pleased to tell the Deputy Prime-Minister what this earn-as-you-learn approach means to them, and to share their enthusiasm for this unique and growing opportunity. We were also able to discuss with Nick Clegg the way that this wonderful facility is challenging ideas about apprenticeships and lifting peoples expectations of what apprenticeships can be.

“We want people to see the superb facilities we have here, and to understand what this can mean for young people and for businesses.  That is why this week we are also welcoming 10 employers to take part in a ‘back to the floor day, to experience life as an apprentice in this environment. We know they are incredibly impressed by what we do, and what a skilled workforce trained in this high-tech environment can offer to their businesses in future.”

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