Aftermarket April 2022

APRIL 2022 AFTERMARKET 61 www.aftermarketonline.net sector will have come up through the apprenticeship route, and know what it can offer. Whatever it may be, an effective apprenticeship programme could open new doors to your business, and ultimately help you boost revenue. Do not forget to work closely with your apprentice to find out their current skillset and build a programme which will not only help you hit business objectives, but also help them hone a craft you just do not have the staff for currently. These benefits however, mean nothing if businesses do not provide their apprentices with all the help they need. Having an apprentice who does not have the correct training or resources is not going to give your business the benefits you want to see, through no fault of their own. Businesses have a responsibility to ensure they have effective learning resources, support and objectives to monitor their progress. Each apprentice should be provided with a tailored learning journey, including a plan which can be codesigned with the employer. The apprenticeship process is already quite complex, but employers have access to support from learning providers such as The Skills Network, who can help them understand the skills gap each apprentice has, before helping them plug it. While businesses need to think about the skills their company needs, it is also vital that we take lessons from the last 18 months, which has shown the need for transferable skills in order to keep the economy moving effectively. Apprenticeships should be provided with those skills too as young people enter the workforce, and, who knows, it could open the door up for new business opportunities you never even considered. To find out more about The Skills Network’s apprenticeship programme visit: theskillsnetwork.com/funding- streams/apprenticeships By focusing on creating delivery plans for every apprentice, businesses can develop employees who have the right skills ” Looking to lead by example, TMD Friction is aiming to increase its apprenticeship intake, with an aim of taking on at least five new apprentices during 2022. Commenting on the planned intake, Dan Matthews, Learning and Development Manager at TMD Friction, said: “We know attracting the best, fresh talent is a key part of our succession planning agenda and continued growth. That’s why this year we’ll be looking at recruiting an additional five apprentices, taking the total employed across the business to 23. Our current apprentices are employed in a range of areas, from engineering, electrical and maintenance to finance, HR and IT and each in their own way is proving to be a real asset to the business. For us, it’s not just about attracting apprentices, it’s about supporting them through their learning and development so at the end of their qualification, they are ideally placed to secure permanent employment with us.” Stuart Gallagher is one of TMD Friction’s existing apprenticeship programme, joining the business almost five ago. Following the completion of his Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT and a Level 3 apprenticeship in IT, he was promoted, becoming IT department support technician, with responsibility for TMD Friction’s IT capabilities across the business. He said: “TMD Friction is a great place to work and really are committed to investing in their staff and giving people with the right attitude and work ethic the opportunity to move up the career ladder. Hopefully this position will set me up for a project engineer or team leader role at TMD Friction. That’s certainly my aim.” Prior to the decision to increase its apprenticeship intake, the company had 18 apprentices across the business, with another 12 full-time staff completely apprenticeship qualifications to support their development within the business. For more information, visit: www.tmdfriction.com Apprenticeship boost at TMD Friction