BAE Systems has opened a new £15.6 million aerospace skills and training academy, marking the single biggest investment in aerospace skills in the UK. The group opened its new training academy at Samlesbury, Lancashire, to create a pipeline of talent that will be able to meet the future technical demands
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) is offering a range of construction apprenticeship and skills based training courses, such as electrical courses, plumbing, carpentry, dry lining and bricklaying. The Construction Skills Network’s (CSN) Industrial Insights 2016-2020 report shows that the industry is due to grow by
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
BAE Systems has opened a new £15.6 million aerospace skills and training academy, marking the single biggest investment in aerospace skills in the UK. The group opened its new training academy at Samlesbury, Lancashire, to create a pipeline of talent that will be able to meet the future technical demands of its military aircraft business. The Academy for Skills and Knowledge (ASK) marks the single biggest investment ever in skills for the UK aerospace sector. The 7,400m2 building has been designed and constructed over the last three years and is located on the Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone along with BAE System’s military aircraft advanced manufacturing centre. The centre will train all the graduates and apprentices in the BAE’s military aircraft business, while also providing ‘life-long learning and skills development activities’ for 13,000 employees for at least the next 40 years. The ASK will also act as a collaborative skills-hub for the North West’s engineering and manufacturing sector and offer Stem resources for school children from five to 14 years old. BAE Systems said that the technology in the ASK “mirrors the latest advanced manufacturing technologies and factory layouts” used at its own sites around the UK. This includes 3D printers, a manufacturing Kuka robot cell, a composites clean room, as well as a virtual reality ‘cave’ to train apprentices using immersive simulations that include viewing wiring on a military jet. In early 2017, the academy’s hangar will accommodate a full size Hawk jet for apprentices to understand the ‘engineering complexity and build of an aircraft’ first hand. Chris Boardman, managing director of BAE Systems military air and information, said that the ASK offers “an unrivalled modern engineering and manufacturing environment in which BAE Systems can deliver the highest quality training”. Northern Powerhouse minister Andrew Percy added: “Northern businesses have stablished themselves in the top flight of the aerospace industry and the new flagship Academy for Skills and Knowledge will offer excellent opportunities to our young people from the area.”
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) is offering a range of construction apprenticeship and skills based training courses, such as electrical courses, plumbing, carpentry, dry lining and bricklaying. The Construction Skills Network’s (CSN) Industrial Insights 2016-2020 report shows that the industry is due to grow by 2.5% every year and by 3.5% in Greater London. Fiona McKinney, 24 studied at CONEL as part of an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery with Haringey Council’s housing service Homes for Haringey in 2009-11, where she still works today. She went on to secure the top prize in the Association for Public Service Excellence National Housing and Building Apprentice of the Year Awards. She commented: “I didn’t really like school and wasn’t that academic. “Woodwork was the only thing I had an interest in and I managed to get an apprenticeship with Homes for Haringey and on a course at CONEL.” Meanwhile, 31 year old Adam Tezzare began an apprenticeship with T Clarke, a nationwide building services contractor delivering mechanical, electrical and ICT services, in June, having previously studied for a Level 1 and a Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation. According to the report published by CSN, in Greater London alone over 18,000 jobs are set to be created over the next five year period. Each year the capital will require around 1,210 builders, 480 glaziers, 420, wood and interior fitters, 200 floorers and 480 non-construction operatives. The demand for skilled workers has resulted from strong investment in commercial and infrastructure projects and a growth in private housing, at levels not seen since before the start of the recession in 2008. In Greater London there are also a number of large projects in the rail industry which are also expected to continue to require skilled workers over the coming years, including Crossrail, HS2 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
