LTM to train five new apprentices over the next five years.

2011-12-15

UK – Currently training their fifth apprentice; Robert Simmons, lifting solutions provider, Lift Turn Move based in Bromborough on the Wirral, have already shown a commitment to training future engineers and this is set to continue with the announcement from Director, John Jones, that they plan to train a new apprentice each year for the next 5 years.

Robert joined LTM in July at just 16 years of age, having just left school. Whilst still at school 6 months prior to joining LTM, Rob wrote to John Jones to ask about joining the company under the scheme. At the time there were no vacancies available but his initiative impressed John, so when an opportunity arose, Robert was invited to interview and got the job.

Rob joins Joe Griffiths in the work shop as the second apprentice currently being trained at LTM. Like Joe before him, Rob will be spending twelve months in the warehouse receiving product training, dispatching goods and observing the other engineers at work. This will lead on to an apprenticeship course in Electrical and Mechanical Maintenance which will involve one day of tuition at a local college to learn essential theory and 4 days a week working in the hoist assembly team to developing their practical skills.

Skills shortages and recruiting difficulties are considered to be some of the biggest threats facing businesses today, and The Young Apprenticeship Scheme addresses these issues directly, commenting on it, John Jones remarks:

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to recruit skilled lifting equipment engineers, so we feel that in the present climate the best way forward for us as a company is to bring new apprentices through the business. „

As well as addressing a skills shortage, the National Apprentice Scheme states on their website that “Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invested in them.“ These statements come as no surprise to LTM, four of their apprentices are still at the company, some of whom have subsequently moved into supervisory positions and even been asked to travel abroad to use their skills. John continues:

“We plan to recruit one apprentice per year over the next 5 years and see how things develop. As a responsible employer, we feel it is important not just to recruit talent, but to nurture it. Ultimately it's all about the people, if we get people in with the right attitude like these guys we've had through on this scheme, then we're all set. You can teach the right skills, but you can't teach the right attitude. „