FIRMS in Redditch have been urged to think of their future and invest in an apprentice to ensure continuity, drive and growth.
The call comes from Lee Weatherly, chief executive of MGTS which recently opened a £1.5million training centre in the Brook Building in Arrow Road North.
He was speaking after an open day saw more than 120 people attend the grand opening of the facility which is tailor-made to give young people all the skills they need to get a start in engineering.
“The way it works is this – We can only recruit if we are instructed by an employer to take on an apprentice, so we are working hard to encourage companies to do just that,” said Mr Weatherly.
“There’s a good mix of firms in Redditch, but while some are planning for the future and thinking ahead others are not showing that same degree of ambition,” he added.
“Others have relied almost on homegrown talent to get by and others have been self sufficient. But if they want to grow they need to show more ambition and drive.”
The centre has space for around 40 students and so far close to 20 young people have been offered places and staff at MGTS are now actively working to encourage more companies to think of the future and take on an apprentice.
“I’m taking loads and loads of employers around the building to show what we do and obviously it works both ways as we have to align ourselves with local needs, so there is a listening process too.”
MGTS, which has its main offices in Coventry, can be contacted on 024 7663 0333.
