Renishaw is a firm believer in the value of apprenticeships. Hardly surprising when you realise that this global-spanning, Gloucestershire-based engineering company counts hundreds of its staff, including senior managers, amongst the scheme鈥檚 luminaries - and that its co-founders are both former apprentices.
This year sees the company offer a across 15 disciplines including building maintenance and, for the first time plumbing, giving a breadth of learning that reaches way beyond the traditional STEM-based career paths.
For , a global provider of manufacturing technologies, analytical instruments and medical devices, bolstering skills and nurturing new talent is a key part of its strategy and success.
It鈥檚 also why Wotton-under-Edge-based Renishaw is so proud to be a category sponsor at the GloucestershireLive Apprenticeship Awards 2022, which is (see panel, below).
Head of communications at Renishaw, Chris Pockett explained: 鈥淎pprentices bring new thinking, a different approach, energy and enthusiasm which are some of the things we are looking for. We've had such a good experience with apprenticeships and apprentices over many years that it seems to make sense, especially at a time of increasing skills shortages and difficulty recruiting to train your own people and develop them and that鈥檚 what an apprenticeship does.
鈥淎nd generally it provides more loyalty as well. If someone has grown up with you they have more of an affinity with the business so the retention levels are typically higher with those people who have been through apprenticeships rather than those who come through on graduate schemes.鈥
A total of 240 employees are on an apprenticeship on one of the 15-plus schemes offered, from early careers right through to MBA level - and everything in between. The current crop are a mix of those new to the company and staff keen to develop their skills in areas such as engineering, software engineering, manufacturing and commercial.
There is no ceiling
At Renishaw, an apprenticeship isn鈥檛 an end in itself, it is just another route to progress within the company, as Chris explained: 鈥淭here is no ceiling. Our head of group manufacturing - who is responsible for Renishaw鈥檚 manufacturing around the world - started out as an apprentice with the company when he was 16. And our co-founders (Sir David McMurtry and John Deer) are former apprentices.
鈥淚n a company of our size there are lots of different possibilities. Just because you are an apprentice or a graduate it doesn鈥檛 matter. Once you have those qualifications it鈥檚 really down to you.鈥
Are you the perfect fit?
Entry-level apprentices can鈥檛 rely on a busy work-related CV to give them the edge, but at Renishaw it鈥檚 all about spotting that potential. Chris said: 鈥淥ne thing we are looking for is a good attitude, we are looking for a good cultural fit.
鈥淐andidates all have a similar track record, their CVs are very similar, so we are looking for people who have typically shown a good work ethic, who may have held down part-time jobs or done things like the Duke of Edinburgh awards. If it鈥檚 a practical apprenticeship, that they have demonstrated passion for that particular topic, or shown an interest in it.鈥
- For more about Renishaw apprenticeships
- For more about Renishaw
GloucestershireLive Apprenticeship Awards 2022
The - a celebration of the brightest learners across Gloucestershire as well as the organisations helping them succeed - are back for 2022.
The awards, run by in association with BusinessLive, recognise excellence across a wide range of sectors, with the overall GloucestershireLive Apprentice of the Year selected from all the winners on the night of the event. An award for Outstanding Contribution to Apprenticeships in Gloucestershire will also be presented at the ceremony, which takes place on Thursday, September 22, at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester.
Renishaw is proud to sponsor the Employer of the Year category. Chris said: 鈥淭he awards are a celebration of the brightest learners across Gloucestershire as well as the organisations helping them succeed. We鈥檙e looking for entries from the best apprentices the county has to offer.鈥
Entries for the awards are open until Monday, June 20. To submit a nomination and to find out more about entry requirements, visit the .
