It’s National Apprenticeship Week (10 – 16 February), and Newbury College and Xtrac are celebrating a platinum skills partnership that spans over two decades. The partnership has seen Xtrac employing and developing 114 engineering apprentices across the last 22 years.
This continuous programme of developing local talent has contributed to supporting the local economy and building a knowledgeable and sustainable workforce.
University Centre Newbury (UCN) and Newbury College are delighted to support the training and development of such a prestigious organisation in the Engineering sector having worked in collaboration to create a constantly evolving curriculum that supports their business needs.
The apprentices develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours with a weekly day-release training programme at the Monk’s Lane campus, sustaining local skills development for Engineering qualifications from a Machining programme at Level 2 at College to HNC, HND, degree and master’s levels with UCN.
Liam Faughnan, Head of Apprenticeships and Skills, said:
“Apprenticeships help close workforce gaps, reduce turnover, and increase productivity, contributing significantly to economic growth. It is rewarding to see the impact our apprenticeship programmes are having on our local economy.
“Partnering with organisations like Xtrac, which embed apprenticeships into their sustainable business model, truly highlights the value of these programmes.”
Xtrac has recently been honoured with the prestigious Princess Royal Training Award for the third time, highlighting its innovative approach to training. This achievement exemplifies how collaboration between industry and education can equip students with the skills needed for modern careers.
One of the driving factors behind the success of this collaboration is Warren Page, Apprentice Manager, Xtrac, who commented:
“It has been fantastic collaborating with Newbury College over the last 20 years and working together towards our prestigious Princess Royal Training Award. The Xtrac apprenticeship scheme is a great way for us to develop our own skilled and knowledgeable employees in house.”
Xtrac's dedication to developing these training programmes in partnership with the College aligns perfectly with the focus on careers, not courses, and the mission of creating opportunities to transform lives.
To find out more about apprenticeship and partnership opportunities, visit newbury-college.ac.uk/apprenticeships