Alstom receives over 500 applications for 27 apprentice roles

Almost 20 times as many applications as positions for apprentice scheme.

To mark National Apprenticeships Week, international engineering company Alstom has released details of the remarkable response it has had to its 2014 scheme.

The company, which employs over 6,500 people at 30 locations around the UK, received a total of 518 applications for 27 apprenticeships with its Grid, Power and Transport divisions around the UK.

A single apprenticeship for an electrical and mechanical engineer at its Glasgow traincare centre in Polmadie received a total of 87 applications, the 10 apprenticeships available in the Power and Grid businesses in Stafford saw 185 people apply, and the four apprenticeships available in Preston saw 110 people apply.

The next step for suitable applicants is to take part in assessment centres that will run in Stafford, Preston and London next week.

In addition to the apprentices, Alstom has also closed applications for its graduate scheme, with 418 applying for the 17 spaces. A total of 158 people applied for the seven positions in Stafford, 59 applied for three roles at the Midlands Traincare Centre in Wolverhampton, and 66 people applied for a single role in Preston.

Terence Watson, Alstom UK President, said: I think that what were seeing is an eagerness on behalf of young people to become involved in a career in engineering. As engineering companies like Alstom face a huge skills gap in the coming years, its increasingly important that we do everything we can to address that by training up young people. Without their talent, it will be impossible to build such vital projects as new nuclear power stations, HS2 and offshore wind farms projects we need to sustain our economic recovery.

Alstom offers three and four-year apprenticeships, including study at local colleges as well as extensive on-the-job training at power stations, on Grid projects and at the companys Transport centres.

The company also operates a STEM ambassadors programme designed to encourage young people to consider engineering as a career, and currently has nearly 150 employees regularly visiting schools and events to talk about potential career paths.

Alstom will also be attending the Big Bang Fair, which takes place next week at the NEC in Birmingham, as part of its commitment to helping develop tomorrows engineers.

Total figures:

Press contact 

Jonathan Smith
Head of Media Relations, Alstom UK 
Tel 01788 545602 or 07801 775650
jonathan.smith@chq.alstom.com 

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