Ford  has announced a series of engineering and business apprenticeship programmes, including, for the first time, a higher apprenticeship in IT.

Other advanced apprenticeships provide training in engineering, and finance.

Tessa Hougham, apprenticeship manager, Ford of Britain, said: “The inclusion of IT in our apprenticeship programme for the first time reflects the key role of this discipline within the modern automotive industry. It will enable young people to develop business knowledge, as well as technical skills.”

The programme also includes the masters apprenticeship programme, which recruits 450 new apprentices into the Ford dealer network every year.

Ms Hougham said: “This programme has proved very popular on previous occasions and has been a big success story for us.”

The apprenticeship programme, which in the past has pulled in young trainees from across the UK and Europe, will be based in Essex, taking place at the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence in Rainham, and Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre.

Ms Hougham said: “Ford’s expanding range of apprenticeship programmes will provide even more young, talented individuals with the opportunity to earn and learn at the same time, and ensure Ford continues to recruit the best people for these highly-skilled roles.”

Ford’s higher apprenticeships lead on to a full degree-level qualification, the BEng hons degree. The IT apprenticeship leads to a BSc (hons) degree in IT management for business.

Dr. Raj Bhatti, head of department, mechanical, manufacturing and design engineering at the University of Greenwich, said: “We are extremely pleased to be playing a role in Ford’s higher apprenticeship programme, which will this year be stronger than ever.

“The partnership between this university and Ford is a first-class example of how industry and higher education can work together to provide new opportunities and generate new ideas.”


WHAT YOU NEED FOR ENTRY IN SEPTEMBER


This year’s apprentice programme starts in September.

Applicants must have
a minimum of five GCSEs or equivalent at Grade B or above, including maths, English and, for engineering and IT, GCSE double science, as well as three A-levels (or equivalent) at grade B or above.

For more details go to www.fordapprenticeships.co.uk