The NITAL (Northamptonshire Industrial Training Association Ltd) Academy replicates a working environment with modern equipment such as mills, lathes, welding equipment and an inspection area as well as classrooms.
The academy will deliver qualifications developed by EAL, the specialist awarding organisation for industry, to apprentices from local companies as well as catering for full-time learners with plans to expand provision next year.
Dan Barker, training academy manager, said: “We are working with more than 100 companies to deliver traditional apprenticeships fitting the needs of modern industry. As well as the practical and theoretical work, we will be very much focused on employability skills. For example, learners will be expected to clock in and out every day just as they would in the workplace, with an expectation of meeting all deadlines to the required specifications.”
The full-time learners will undergo an induction in health and safety before undertaking their EAL Performance Engineering Operations Level 2, designed to cover the fundamental skills and knowledge common to all engineering practices that are part of the apprenticeship framework - within the academy from mid-October.
Apprentices from local companies will spend one day a week at the academy working towards their EAL Level 2 and level 3 VRQ (vocational related qualification).
Barker added: “We will be working within the Semta national occupational standards and apprenticeship frameworks just as they would be if they were in employment. We will also be looking to do real jobs for companies as part of the training so they get real hands-on experience of manufacturing components for a customer and all the skills required to do so.”
Julia Chippendale, managing director of EAL, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with NITAL. This is a fantastic facility which brings engineering to life and provides a vibrant, real-time environment for learners. The training, the partnership with employers and the qualifications the apprentices will gain is the ideal passport into work, helping to ensure the UK has the skills to succeed in engineering and advanced manufacturing.”
