Engineering group commits to hiring 400 apprentices over next five years

Warrington-based engineering contractor Bilfinger UK, has pledged to hire 400 apprentices over the next five years to deliver future growth and attract and retain more young people across the sector.

The new commitment will see the firm hire 86 new trainees this year across its network in England and Scotland, with the majority of the positions created within its maintenance, modifications and operations (MMO) business.

Bilfinger UK is one of Britain’s largest tier one contractors with 4,500 employees and 13 locations across the UK’s key industrial hubs.

Each apprentice will undertake either a three- or four-year programme of work experience and appropriate off the job training relevant to the discipline being worked towards, which will be certified by a recognised awarding body.

Damian Redmond, HR director at Bilfinger UK, said: “It is common knowledge that there is a skills shortage in the UK engineering industry and as a major contractor and employer, we recognise the importance of our role in attracting new talent into the sector and providing them with the skills and opportunities to build successful careers.

“This is an exciting time to come into engineering. The sectors we operate in are changing rapidly as the UK accelerates towards the energy transition, from our traditional markets of oil and gas and utilities, through to major renewables in onshore and offshore wind, nuclear, hydrogen and carbon capture.”

He added: “Our scheme represents a significant opportunity for those with a curiosity of how we make and maintain the infrastructure that makes the world turn. And it’s this proposition that the industry collectively needs to embrace to attract tomorrow’s generation of engineers.”