The former boss of Aycliffe Business Park’s biggest employer insists apprenticeships are vital for all companies to grow.
And firms can get to know more about his views on apprenticeships and how to deal with the apprenticeship levy during a special seminar this week.
David Land, the former plant director at Gestamp Tallent who helped to set up the North-East’s first University Technical College (UTC) in Newton Aycliffe, will be one of the speakers at the breakfast event, being held at South West Durham Training (SWDT) on Friday morning (June 16).
Attendees will also get to hear from Hitachi Rail Europe training manager Kendra Stonehouse and SWDT chief executive Lee Childs during the meeting, which starts at 8am.
Land, who is now chairman of the County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEM), said: “All small to medium sized businesses need to train up young people in order to grow.
“I’m a former apprentice myself having started out with Cummins in Darlington so I understand the importance of apprenticeships and the opportunities they can provide.
“You only have to look at the likes of Gestamp Tallent and Hitachi Rail, who are taking on dozens of new apprentices every year.
“Gestamp wouldn’t be there now without apprenticeships and its management team is made up of a third, if not a half, of people who’ve gone down the apprenticeship route, which shows there are really good career opportunities to be had in engineering and manufacturing.
“The apprenticeship levy can be a bit confusing and it’s important all businesses get to know how it works and how it affects them.”
A number of training providers are due to attend Friday’s event, who will all be available to talk to. They include SWDT, Northern Skills Group, Bishop Auckland College, Optimum Skills, Baltic Training, Derwentside Training and Foundation of Light.
The meeting, which includes a free breakfast and networking opportunities, is expected to run from 8am to around 10.30am.
To register, go to the events section at aycliffebusinesspark.co.uk
