Frimley, UK, 2016-Sep-08
Sixteen apprentices joined the company this week to begin Siemens’ first programme of its kind in the UK. Hiring the apprentices is a further demonstration of Siemens’ commitment to put down roots in Hull and secure a strong pipeline of talent within the city.
Following an extensive induction process, 14 of the young people will embark on Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships in Wind Turbine Blade Manufacture (Composite Engineering) while two further recruits will begin Level 4 Higher Apprenticeships offering a dual Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Operations and Mechanical Engineering, reflecting their previous qualifications and experience.
All the apprentices live locally and are aged between 16 and 23. They were selected after Siemens’ received more than 400 applications for the roles and interviewed more than 60 candidates. The new recruits are:
- Benjamin Allanson, 20, from Aldbrough, East Yorkshire.
- Ronan Boulton, 17, from Hull.
- Lee Budgen, 21, from Hull.
- Harrison Colledge, 16, from Hull.
- Charlie D’Arcy, 18, from Hull (Higher Apprentice).
- Daniel Deeming, 18, from Beverley, East Yorkshire.
- Charlie Fletcher, 19, from Hessle, East Yorkshire.
- Rhys Hebbs, 19, from Hull.
- Charlotte Hunt, 23, from Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire (Higher Apprentice).
- Poppy Hutchinson, 17, from Brough, East Yorkshire.
- Oliver Marshall, 16, from Brough, East Yorkshire.
- Sam Macklin, 19, from Hull.
- Jamie Martin, 16, from Keyingham, East Yorkshire.
- Richard Oxburgh, 16, from Hull.
- Chelsea Ward, 19, from Hull.
- Sam Williams, 16, from Hull.
Jason Speedy, Siemens’ Hull Blade Factory Director, said: “We’re delighted with the first young people we have brought on board for what we intend will be an annual intake of apprentices.
“They all have a great attitude and a real desire to learn and develop. As well as learning new skills and gaining valuable qualifications, the apprentices will be moulded into the Siemens Hull culture, working alongside and learning from more senior colleagues among our amazing workforce in Hull.
“Establishing this apprenticeship programme will ensure we have a strong pipeline of talent, with these young people bringing a fresh mindset and new ideas to help to keep us moving forward.
“During their training, the apprentices will be rotated around the business to enable them to make informed career choices from a wide range of manufacturing and engineering roles. I’m sure they have a great future ahead of them with Siemens.”
Carolyn Woolway, Siemens’ Head of Human Resources for the Hull project, said: “All these young people have done incredibly well to secure their apprenticeships under intense competition.
“We said when we advertised the positions we were looking for young people with the x-factor and we think we have achieved that.
“During the recruitment process we were particularly looking for values and behaviours consistent with the Siemens culture as well as extra-curricular activities, such as charity work and volunteering, which demonstrate these young people will contribute above and beyond the norm.”
The apprenticeships programme will run for up to three and a half years, leading to the Advanced Apprentices gaining a NVQ Level 3 Extended Diploma in Composite Engineering and BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering. Higher Apprentices gain a HNC in Operations and Mechanical Engineering and a Level 4 NVQ Extended Diploma in Engineering Manufacture – the final qualification being a Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Technology.
The Advanced Apprentices will spend the first year of the programme based at Hull College, during which the apprentices will begin studying towards their technical qualification and take part in Siemens’ Hull-based training programme in manufacturing skills using composite materials. Siemens’ blades are a composite of balsa wood, glass fibre and resin.
In the second year the apprentices will complete their BTEC on day release at college, while getting a thorough knowledge of operations within the factory by being rotated around placements within production departments. The final 18 months of the programme will involve working in their preferred discipline. The Higher Apprentices will be on day release, completing their Level 4 HNC with Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) at the University of Hull’s The Lawns complex in Cottingham.
Charlie D’Arcy, 18, who is embarking on a Higher Apprenticeship, said: “I can’t believe I’ve made it this far. I had some other apprenticeship opportunities lined up, but as soon as I got the phone call I rang the others up and said I’m taking this one. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It’s the best thing to happen in Hull for a long time, with the number of people Siemens is taking on and the investment it’s bringing in.”
Poppy Hutchinson, 17, said: “I see my long-term future with Siemens because it’s a great company and this apprenticeship will open so many doors and a career for life.
“I don’t like to see the environment being harmed and it’s the way forward to produce more green energy. I’m proud that I’ll be playing a part in that.”
Rhys Hebbs, 19, said: “When I saw Siemens was hiring, I knew this was what I wanted to do. Not only is Siemens a really prestigious company to work for, what it’s doing to combat climate change makes it my dream job.
“It’s the perfect combination of me wanting to further my education and training in the engineering field and my passion for making the world a better place. I’m ecstatic and can’t wait to get started.”
Siemens has run apprenticeship schemes in the UK for more than 100 years and currently employs 500 apprentices across the country, the majority of them within its manufacturing operations.
With partner Associated British Ports (ABP), Siemens is investing £310m in Hull to create a world-class and world-scale centre for offshore wind manufacturing, assembly and logistics. Siemens will employ around 1,000 people at the city’s Alexandra Dock, the majority within the blade factory.
Parts of the Hull blade factory are now operational, with further production areas coming on stream by the end of the year. More than 500 people have now been employed by Siemens in Hull or will join the company within the next few weeks, with 95% of them from the local area. Further recruitment, mainly for roles in the factory, will continue until March next year.
Mr Speedy added: “We’ve got a fantastic team on board and training has gone exceptionally well.
“We’re now getting on with the job. It’s the start of a journey – we’ve got lots to learn and a number of hurdles to jump, but everybody is really excited and confident about the challenge ahead.”
For information about the Siemens Hull project please go to www.siemens.co.uk/hull
-ENDS-
Contacts for journalists:
John Meehan, of Meehan Media & Comms (on behalf of Siemens Plc)
Tel: 01482 223479
mobile: 07803 199492
E-mail: john@meehanmedia.co.uk
Anne Keogh, Siemens plc
Tel: 01276 696312
mobile: 07808 823545
E-mail: anne.keogh@siemens.com
For further information and press pictures, please see: www.siemens.co.uk/press
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About Siemens
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of September 2015, the company had around 348,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
