Enthusiastic apprentices at adi Group swapped the workshop for woodlands at a special summer camp in Sutton Coldfield back in June 2018. And, with the opportunity to further bond as a team and learn some vital life skills, the 19 engineering apprentices were eager to step out of their comfort zones for the two-day event at NPF Adventure Park in Bassetts Pole.
The apprentices had to work together to bring back an 'injured' team member, build a shelter and assemble a bridge – all essential parts of the teamworking ethos we adopt here at adi Group.
Lessons in flat-pack furniture assembly, reconstructing paintball guns and water filtration further tested the apprentices mettle and their engineering skills. As a component of our wider full-time apprentice initiative, this first away camp aimed to challenge our young engineers to solve unique problems.
Commenting on the importance of skills development and the away camp, adi Group Strategic Account Director James Sopwith said: “It’s imperative that we not only take our apprentices out of their normal working environment, but also invest in skills development that will make them more rounded individuals. These are young people at a vital stage in their lives who potentially will be the ones helping to engineer a bright future for us all.
“We’re really proud of both our pre-apprenticeship and apprentice schemes, which have already paid dividends in terms of strengthening and diversifying our full-time workforce.
“These two day events saw some really encouraging signs, both from a drive, passion and skills point of view, but also with one eye on our teamwork and problem-solving culture, which is so vitally important to our success.”
Feedback from those in attendance was overwhelmingly positive with many apprentices commenting that it had been a good opportunity to meet apprentices from other locations within the group, who they would not normally work alongside.
