Wrexham teenagers sign up for JCB apprenticeships as part of £7.5m scheme

Three new apprentices from have joined JCB Transmissions in Wrexham as the company steps up investment in its Young Talent programme to record levels throughout its UK factories.

The trio who have just started at JCB Transmissions are Alfie Beeson, Cameron Pemberton and Tomas Davies.

This year, JCB is ploughing £7.5 million 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.

It means 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 JCB. A number are Higher Apprentices who will go on to take degrees, learning while they earn and avoiding the need to incur costly student loans.

It brings to £20 million the amount the company has invested in its Young Talent programme over the past four years – an initiative which has seen around 550 graduates and engineers join the business. The news comes as JCB prepares to open up applications for its 2018 programme on Monday, October 2nd. Information will be available via the JCB website (www.jcb.co.uk).

Alfie, 18, of Wrexham, who has joined on a three-year Machinist Apprenticeship, said: “I went to college last year and started an engineering course, which I liked.

“But I realised I would rather be getting paid and learning at the same time, which is why I applied for the job at JCB. I am working on CNC and lathe machines under the supervision of a mentor.

“The learning curve is pretty high but because of the support you get you don’t feel out of your depth.”

Cameron Pemberton, 16, also of Wrexham, is on a four year Higher Apprenticeship. His role involves carrying out durability and chemical tests on all the metals JCB uses in its machines.

He said: “I joined straight from school – Ysgol Morgan Llwyd – because I was interested in engineering and wanted to follow a career in that subject.

“JCB has a great reputation so when I found out they were inviting people to apply for apprenticeships I jumped at the chance.

“I am hoping to work my way up the career ladder and progress to supervisor and manager over the next few years – there is plenty of scope for that progression here.”

Tomas Davies, also 16, of Wrexham, finished his schooling at Ysgol Clywedog earlier this year and successfully applied for the three-year Machinist Apprenticeship at JCB Transmissions.

He said: “It is such a big company and well-known everywhere that I knew it was the right move to make.

“There are plenty of opportunities to have a very successful career here and pick up a very valuable qualification along the way.

“The fact I am earning money as well is a major factor. None of my other friends are earning while they are studying, so I am at a real advantage in terms of saving for the future.”

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford started his career as an engineering apprentice in 1962 before joining JCB in 1964.

He 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.

These options are attractive to new employees entering work from education for the first time, or those from other sectors with work experience who are looking to learn a new trade and apply what they have learnt through their daily work.

The number of opportunities to join the Higher Apprentice programme has also been doubled enabling 20 places to study up to degree level for those who have attained either A-levels or a Level 3 Apprenticeship.

Group Training Director Alan Thomson added: “JCB is expanding quickly and launching a range of innovative and exciting new products. We are ambitious to grow the business and the record level of investment in this year’s Young Talent programme is crucial to our future.”