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Firms ‘should take on apprentices for the upturn’

A North East training charity has warned companies are putting their long-term success in jeopardy by not taking on apprentices.

The warning came as former racing driver and TV motoring expert Tiff Needell gave his backing to the Apprentices For the Upturn campaign, launched by Middlesbrough’s TTE Technical Training Group.

The charity’s aim is to encourage companies to sign up apprentices, with the message that firms need to have a properly-trained workforce to capitalise on opportunities that will arise when the recession ends.

TTE managing director Keith Hunter warned that firms who failed to prepare for the upturn now could miss out on future contracts.

Mr Needell was able to achieve a degree in civil engineering after being sponsored by George Wimpey and Co prior to his racing days, and his brother benefited from an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce.

Mr Needell said: “I am delighted to help support the case.

“It will give these young people the chance of a fulfilling career and also allows firms to secure the valuable asset of a skilled worker ready to meet the business opportunities which emerge at the end of the recession.”

Mr Hunter has spoken to local employers who suggested orders were picking up and that there had been an improvement in business conditions.

He said: “By taking a young person on now and completing their training when orders pick up, you will have the skilled workers.

“Companies that have had the foresight to support apprentices will have a competitive edge over rivals, who may not have been so forward looking.

Those unprepared firms will find themselves facing a skills-gap and missing out on contracts as a result.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .