APSLEY Precision Engineering has been working with Wiltshire College & University Centre on providing placements for T Level students for three years and is reaping the rewards of the partnership.
Tommy is starting an apprenticeship at the end of his two-year T Level course while Dylan Hughes has made a good impression in his first year.
The company, at High Post near Salisbury, employs 35 people, with around 15 per cent of its engineers being apprentices who have trained with the college.
“We’re very keen on giving young people work experience and bringing them on through T Levels and apprenticeships,” says Operations Manager Jon Paul-Sanders. “It is difficult to recruit skilled engineers so it makes sense for us to train our own.”
Tommy began with the firm on work experience before completing his T Level with the college. “He’s a bit of a success story and now he’s going on to do an apprenticeship,” says Jon. “Dylan has made a good start and he’ll be coming back next year to do his second year.
“For us as an employer, the T Level works well because we get to try someone out. They come to us on their placement for 315 hours so we really get to know them, and they get to know us.”
“They come in once a week for a day and it’s another pair of hands. We get them to do all sorts to expose them to as much of the business as possible. Hopefully they’ve already decided that that’s what they want to do but they can then decide if that’s really the path they want to take.”
Because they are in each week, the students become integrated within the company, which makes parts and machinery to a huge range of sectors – even providing props for Disney films. “We know Dylan’s in on Thursday so we are able to plan work for him,” says Jon. “We look at our production board and work out what we’re going to get him to do, which is really useful.
“The college has always told us to treat the T Level students like any other member of staff so we have had them doing all sorts, everything from helping out in the quality department counting parts, packing or more menial tasks to running a machine.
“Dylan has started his machine training and he’s going to do a bit of work with us over the summer holidays to keep his hours going. That’s off his own back and it goes to show you how keen he is.”
While having enthusiastic and motivated young people who are keen to make an impression is a benefit for the employers in the short term, the time spent in the workshop is also a long-term gain.
“Tommy is starting his apprenticeship and because of the experience he’s had he’s going to be leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else so it’s a really good stepping stone,” Jon says. “He’s doing some work with us over the summer holidays and he’s become a useful member of staff.”
The company will be looking to offer a placement another T Level student in the autumn. “We open our doors to T Levels because we think they are great,” says Jon. “They work for us because we can try before we buy, it’s another pair of hands and it’s free so why wouldn’t you?”
Want to kick start your future with real industry experience?
T Levels at Wiltshire College & University Centre combine classroom learning with meaningful industry experience, giving you the skills and confidence to take your next step. Find out more about our courses here.
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Through THE BIG Placement Pledge, we’re calling on employers across Wiltshire to help shape the workforce of tomorrow by offering a T Level industry placement. Every pledge helps ensure students gain the vital hands-on experience they need – while giving your business fresh energy, skills and ideas. Find out how your business can get involved and make your pledge.
