Home > Job News > Entry Level > Crane Company Konecranes To Double UK Apprenticeship Scheme < Job News and Info

Konecranes UK has announced plans to double its apprenticeship scheme next year, leading to the company taking on an extra twelve apprentices across its main locations in 2016.

The expansion of the apprenticeship scheme will take the firm’s total apprentice base to over 30 young people next year. The apprentices will work and study in a number of areas of the Konecranes business, with youngsters split between admin, production and crane servicing roles.

Up to date, the Konecranes apprenticeship scheme has an enviable record, with all apprentices who’ve completed the programme so far going on to work in a full time role.

Konecranes UK’s human resources director, Karen Winfield, explained some of the benefits of the company’s apprenticeship scheme, saying: “It's not just about giving our apprentices a job at the end of their training period but putting them on a career path that can take them to the top of their profession. Our apprentices not only benefit from access to outstanding learning opportunities, they are remunerated in the process for their efforts, while being eligible for a range of fringe benefits that an employer such as Konecranes is capable of offering.”

As well as gaining hands-on experience working for the company, the Konecranes’ apprentices will also study towards an NVQ (Level 2) in performance engineering operations at local colleges.

Ms Winfield also pointed out the financial incentives for any Konecranes apprentices which want to go even further and study towards a degree:

“Should they then decide to progress to degree level, this delivers another significant advantage in that it is Konecranes who fund the process. So, any form of student debt traditionally associated with a university degree is eliminated.”

Owned by a Finnish parent company, Konecranes has 14 bases in the UK but the new apprentices will be concentrated at the firm’s operations in Andover, Bristol, Gateshead, Rochester, Sheffield and Warrington.

After completion of their first year, apprentices will undergo further training at Konecranes’ training centre in Castle Donington, Leicestershire. Upon completion of that six week training block, the apprentices will be able to boast a BTEC higher national certificate in electrical and electronic engineering and will be qualified service technicians.

Pat Campbell, a market area director for Konecranes, emphasised the further opportunities for career progression within the firm, saying: “Apprenticeships are not only a great way for an individual to gain a recognised qualification but to develop professional skills for real career progression. We have senior managers and directors in our business who have undergone the apprenticeship programme in the past, so the scope for continued development not just here in the UK, but on a global basis, is a very realistic proposition.”

If you are interested in this sort of route into work as a student or young person in the UK then find out all you need to know in our complete apprenticeship section.