JCB creates 170 new apprentices as it raises investment in young talent to record levels
Excavator manufacturer JCB is recruiting almost 170 new apprentices and graduates as the company steps up investment in its Young Talent programme to record levels.
This year, the Staffordshire-based company is ploughing £7.5m into recruiting young people into the business to help meet future growth – triple the amount invested in the scheme when it started four years ago.
Of the 168 people who are joining JCB, a total of 117 are apprentices – the biggest ever single intake of apprentices in the 71-year history of the firm.
A number will be Higher Apprentices who will go on to take degrees.
The latest investment brings the total amount ploughed into the Young Talent programme to £20m over the past four years, during which time 550 graduates and engineers have gone on to join the business.
Applications for its 2018 programme begin on October 2.
JCB chairman Lord Bamford, who started his career as an engineering apprentice in 1962 before joining the family firm in 1964, said: “Young people are the future of our company and investing in young talent is vital as the company expands.
“I began my working life as an apprentice and I’m delighted to see a record number of apprentices joining JCB this year. It’s a fantastic way to learn skills vital to our business, progress to degree-level study and to advance to senior roles in the company.”
The 117 apprentices joining JCB are on a range of programmes from Level 2 upwards. The latest recruitment drive has seen a significant increase in the opportunities to develop welding and assembly skills which are essential to the UK manufacturing business.
The number of places on the Higher Apprentice course has been doubled to 20 and the programme has been specially adapted to meet the technology needs of the business and supports careers in Mechanical, Manufacturing and Electrical Engineering.
In addition, 24 undergraduates with mechanical, electrical, electronic and software skills will also begin work in September, along with 27 graduates, from a range of disciplines. They will gain in-depth knowledge of technical and commercial aspects of business operations on programmes which include design, manufacturing, powertrain, purchasing, sales and marketing.
