adi Group's founder Alan Lusty launched the scheme in 2016 with the ambition to revolutionise the future of engineering and help resolve issues around youth skills development in the STEM sector.
Amidst a concerning lack of vocational opportunities for young people to develop an interest in and a knowledge of engineering, the company set out to create a first-of-its-kind, effective path into the industry for students as young as 14.
“At adi, it’s always been our mission to invest in the next generation of engineers,” Lusty said in a statement. “We started by setting up our apprenticeship academy, but we realised there was a strong need to engage children younger than 18. There is a need to drive a passion for the industry in young people, and while post-16 career paths can be effective, it can be too late for others.
“There are a lot of societal issues surrounding engineering to this day, particularly misconceptions about what it means to be an engineer as well as a lack of understanding about what engineers do. The work we do as part of our pre-apprenticeship scheme seeks to change this.”
Successful applicants spend one afternoon per week at adi’s headquarters across the two years scheme, learning hands-on electrical and mechanical engineering skills.
The scheme allows young people to gain a formal EAL qualification, while also enabling them to get a taste for different sides of engineering, allowing them to understand where their strengths and interests lie.
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After the programme the students can move into any engineering apprenticeship, whether with adi or elsewhere, fast-tracking their career and allowing them to start earning sooner.
The firm now has a number of full-time employees who started as pre-apprentices, showcasing the quality of both the pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programmes. This year, out of the 11 pre-apprentices, four have already started as full-time apprentices at adi.
Discussing the importance of creating vocational routes into engineering, Lusty said: “Many talented engineers come from a university background, and it’s great to see that there’s enough passion and interest for young people to pursue a degree in engineering, which is obviously an investment and a commitment.
“However, not everyone is academically orientated, and we need to remember that a substantial part of the engineering sector involves hands-on work, which apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships target incredibly well. A hands-on approach means young people learn practically, understanding how to solve real problems and work with a team to come up with solutions – and there is no substitute for this type of immersive learning experience.
“Ultimately, the biggest issue facing the sector now and in the near future is the lack of skilled engineers. Providing quality opportunities for young people to build these skills from a young age can make a significant impact, and all engineering businesses have a role to play.
Looking ahead to the next decade, the company said that its priority will remain the same: to train the young engineers of tomorrow and breed passion, creativity and innovation within the sector. As part of this commitment, it will continue to better its scheme to meet the evolving needs of the engineering industry and amplify its potential to engage and inspire even more young engineers.
