Over the last 10 weeks we have successfully delivered an internal 10-week Welding Upskilling Course to eight new employees who were looking to learn a new trade. Having all completed and passed the course, they have now moved into permanent roles as Welding Operatives at IAE.
Due to the rise in demand for experienced welding operatives, IAE has found it quite challenging in attracting skilled employees, which is echoed from other organisations from across the city of Stoke-On-Trent and the wider area. The decision to run our own internal welding upskilling course has allowed us to recruit and train individuals with a strong willingness to learn and in-turn has given them the opportunity to learn a new trade that will now form the foundations of their career. Ian Mycock, Production Director said: ‘Running the Welding Upskilling Course has been mutually beneficial for both IAE and the candidates we recruited to partake in the training. Whilst it has given them the opportunity to learn a new trade, it has given IAE 8 additional welders who all now have the capability and skill set to shine in their roles as Welding Operatives within production’.
During the first 5-weeks, the candidates were taught the basics of hand welding within a controlled training environment, learning the different types of welding joints and thicknesses, which was then followed by another 5-weeks of gaining hands on experience welding IAE’s products.
The programme was hugely successful in fulfilling our skills gap and is something that we will continue to consider in the future.
IAE is also dedicated to the ongoing development of our Apprenticeship Scheme, with an intake of 23 apprentices required for 2023. This will see 9 different apprenticeship schemes being delivered, from Level 3 right through to Level 6 Degree Apprentices utilising IAE’s new Apprenticeship Development Centre.
On behalf of everyone at IAE, we want to congratulate the eight candidates who have completed the programme and wish them all the best as they move into their permanent roles as Welding Operatives at IAE.
