A leading engineering firm has commemorated National Apprenticeship Week with a special visit from West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.
The adi Group, located in Kings Norton, Birmingham, has been developing young futures for the past five years with its unique pre-apprenticeship scheme, mentoring 14–16-year-olds in the ropes of electrical and mechanical engineering.
Yesterday, its students were treated to a special visit by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who toured the adi’s custom-built apprenticeship workshop and spoke in depth to some of the students currently on the apprentice programme.
Commenting on his visit, Street said: “This is a wonderful, progressive engineering business and it’s so important for our region to have the skills that adi Group’s pre-apprenticeship provides.”
The adi Group, which in five years, has generated over 60 skilled engineering places from its pre-apprenticeship programme, began with the vision of a former apprentice back in 1990.
That man, Alan Lusty, the CEO of adi Group, set out with one philosophy for the apprenticeship scheme, which aims to help close the engineering skills gap:
“From an early age I understood that not everybody is academic. The world needs people who are hands on as well.
“When we started 30 years ago, we recognised that it is our responsibility to build the future – bring young people in and get them to whatever level they want to be.”
The adi apprenticeship scheme has had no shortage of plaudits over the past five years, having been helped by Business in the Community, a HRH Prince Charles backed business network back in 2014.
The institution supported the liaison with North Bromsgrove High School, the programme’s exclusive partner, in the two years before its official launch.
One of the biggest successes has been Bromsgrove teen Abbie Beaver, who at just 17, was named one of the brightest female engineers in the UK by the prestigious Women’s Engineering Society.
“I’ve learnt some really valuable skills in mechanical and electrical engineering and most of my friends are impressed when I tell them what I’m doing,” said Abbie. “I think it’s important to inspire other women.”
National Apprenticeship Week 2021 has been themed as ‘Build the Future’ by the UK Government, as it calls on businesses to train, retain and achieve with apprentices.
With fully 50% of the first two years pre-apprentice intake still with adi today, The Birmingham business is calling on others across the region to implement its own schemes and contribute to a sustainable future.
