SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR ENGINEERING

Derwent Training Association will help you to recruit and train the next generation of engineers through the apprenticeship route. 

You can download our Employers Guide to Engineering Apprenticeships here

What Apprenticeships do Derwent Training Association offer?

Level 3 Apprenticeships

• Mechanical Machinist
• Mechatronics Maintenance (Electrical/Electronics/Maintenance)
• Metal Fabricator
• Technical Support Technician (including CAD Design)
• Team Leader and Supervisor Apprenticeship (ILM)

Level 4 Apprenticeship

• Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician (Higher Apprenticeship)

Why train an apprentice with Derwent Training?

• 79% Timely Achievement for Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeships (18% above national average and 3% improvement from 2019/20)
• 91% Timely Achievement for Level 2 Engineering Apprenticeships (29% above national average and 20% improvement from 2019/20)
• 75% Timely Achievement for all Engineering Apprenticeships (13.5% above national average and 6% improvement from 2019/20)

What is expected from an employer?

• Your apprentice should have the same conditions as all other employees working at similar grades, or in similar roles. This includes paid holidays, sick pay, any benefits you offer, and any support you offer such as coaching and mentoring. You should always supply your apprentice with a contract of employment.
• You must support your apprentice by participating in tripartite reviews every 10 weeks. This meeting is done between you, your apprentice and their Assessor to discuss and agree progress. This is a funding requirement set by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. 
• You must pay your apprentice at least the National Minimum Wage. The contract of employment should make it clear what wage you'll pay your apprentice, and for what hours. 16-18 year old apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage for apprentices, as well as those who are 19+ and in the first year of their Apprenticeship only. You can find the National Minimum Wage rates here.
• You must pay your apprentice for the time spent training or studying for their Apprenticeship. If your apprentice is also studying for an English and/or Maths qualification that is required by their Apprenticeship, they are entitled to paid study time during their normal working hours. 
• The Education and Skills Funding Agency states that all apprentice employers must have a health and safety assessment of their workplace to ensure that all apprentices are working in safe conditions. As Engineering and Manufacturing falls in the high risk category this will be updated annually. We also require a copy of your Employers Liability Insurance Certificate for audit purposes. 
• Your apprentice must work for 30 hours or more per week, which must include their off-the-job training. We will ask you for their working hours when doing their sign-up paper work to calculate the 20% off-the-job training requirement during the Apprenticeship. 

What is off-the-job training?

Off-the-job training is defined as training which is received by the apprentices, during the apprentices normal working hours, for the purpose of achieving the Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours of the approved apprenticeship referenced in the apprenticeship agreement. This does not include the training that is received by the apprentice for the sole purpose of enabling them to perform the work for which they have been employed. 

Your apprentice is required to complete 20% off-the-job learning as part of the apprenticeship and this will be regularly audited by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Your apprentice needs to log their off-the-job training on a spreadsheet, or in a log book so that they can use this in their portfolio of evidence. Your apprentices Assessor will discuss this in more detail during their progress review. 

What counts as off-the-job training?

• Attendance day to Derwent Training Association
• Online learning
• Manufacturers training
• Time writing assignments
• Shadowing
• Mentoring 
• Industry visits. 

How do I recruit an apprentice?

Derwent Training Association has a dedicated team who will work with you to help you to find the right apprentice for your business. We accept applications from candidates who are looking to pursue an Apprenticeship in Engineering from October to August. All applicants are put through a rigorous recruitment process, and our Business Support Tram will screen applicants to check their suitability to start an Apprenticeship before we shortlist them for your opportunity. 

The screening of applicants is done through an English and Maths Initial Assessment, as well as a Recruitment Interview with a member of our Business Support Team. This rigorous process means that you only see the best quality candidates. 

1. Please call 01653 697698, or email the Business Support Team on info@derwenttraining.co.uk to inform us of your recruitment requirements. We can then set up a meeting to discuss this in more detail, or just add your opportunity onto our recruitmentnt list. If we are provided with a job description then we can advertise your opportunities on the vacancies page on our website, the National Find an Apprenticeship Website, on Social Media and in the local Schools and Colleges. 

2. All applicants will apply via our website and submit a CV. They will then complete an English and Maths Initial Assessment. This will be followed by an interview with a member of our Business Support Team. Both of these steps will assess the applicants suitability to start an Apprenticeship. 

3. Once applicants have successfully passed our recruitment process the applicants who match your requirements will be shortlisted for your opportunity. We will then provide you with all of the relevant information so that you can select applicants to invite for a formal interview at your premises. 

4. Once you have interviewed applicants and selected who you would like to recruit you will need to send them an employment offer and inform us once they have accepted. We will then meet with you, and your new apprentice, to discuss the requirements and complete all the relevant paper work. 

Read what employers said about us

‘’Apprentices have helped North Sea Winches enormously. Our apprentices have all quickly become key members of our production team whilst their continuous hard work, dedication and enthusiasm has allowed us to develop new manufacturing processes, as well as increase the productivity of existing. Having our fantastic apprentices has also allowed us to diversify into other areas of manufacture such as developing, designing and manufacturing all of our electrical controls in-house, and an apprentice is a pivotal part of that process. Working with Derwent Training has been key to the success we have had with our apprentices as they provide the fundamental underpinning knowledge and support to allow them to become the engineers of the future.’’

North Sea Winches

‘’James Fisher Nuclear realised that skilled staff in the Ryedale area are of a premium and much sought after, we therefore made the decision to take on apprentices and nurture the next generation of skilled operatives ourselves. This also has benefits as the apprentices understand our requirements and standards from the outset. With the help of Derwent Training we are now seeing the benefits of this process. We have two apprentices who have been through their Apprenticeship and are now working alongside our skilled staff, whilst also helping and mentoring our current apprentices. The time spent with the apprentices is now starting to show reward and they will become an integral part of James Fisher’s future prosperity.’’

James Fisher Nuclear