As director of training at VT Education and Skills – a national provider of education support services – Rowlett created an automotive training provision for both the internal VT business and the external market, aligning training to manufacturing.
At Babcock International Group as engineering training director, he established a core automotive training capability that is now the largest provision in the sector, working with over 17 manufacturers.
He said: “It is essential that apprenticeships develop competence and capability so they are fit for purpose and match the skill needs of our customers.
“Many small and medium-sized companies simply cannot afford the four-year investment costs of apprentices; and fully skilled workers are attracted by the larger players – often at salaries that smaller companies just cannot match.
“At the MTC’s Lloyds Bank Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre we help SMEs and large employers alike, working in close collaboration with them from day one to ensure our apprenticeships provide a work-ready, skilled technician or engineer who has already demonstrated their capabilities and suitability to the organisation as part of their training. This saves employers time and resources trying to train and manage the development of new apprentices in-house.”
He added: “With a continued shortfall in engineering skills - compounded by many in the profession reaching retirement age - the sector is crying out for new employees skilled in future technologies; skills that will strengthen their business and enable them to compete internationally.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to equip a new generation of engineers with the ability to use tomorrow’s technologies productively - and to redefine what engineering is; and can be in the future. Helping to lead this change in perception by delivering apprenticeships that inspire and develop these skills to futureproof UK manufacturing, is a hugely exciting opportunity for me.”
Part of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) Group and located on the same campus at Ansty Park, the purpose-built training centre has been designed to provide premium training – from apprenticeship programmes, through engineer up-skilling courses and graduate development programmes, right up to executive level training.
Lloyds Bank is contributing £5m as part of its commitment to ensuring the UK manufacturing industry retains its competitive edge. Over 1,000 people will be trained at the centre, including apprentices, engineers on conversion courses, graduates and students studying short courses.
