Launch of a new degree level apprenticeship programme to equip employees with high level manufacturing skills has been announced by Coventry’s Manufacturing Technology Centre.
The Degree Apprenticeship in Product Design and Development will be a four-year, Apprenticeship Levy funded course, allowing students to get a BEng (Hons) degree in advanced manufacturing while in full time paid employment, without having to pay university fees.
“For the employer it allows them to maximise their Apprenticeship Levy to develop and support existing employees, developing sought after high level skills,” said Paul Rowlett, managing director of the MTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre.
“It represents a genuine return on investment, and the business will benefit from the enhanced skills available to them. In addition the course can be tailored to suit a particular employer’s requirements.”
The new degree course will be run in conjunction with Liverpool John Moores University and is aimed at existing Level 3 qualified employees who want to develop their skills. It will be delivered at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, where students will be based at least one day every three weeks, with the rest of their time spent with their host employer.
The programme is designed to produce highly skilled manufacturing engineers with expert knowledge and skills associated with the key areas of materials and processes; computer aided design, analysis and manufacture; automated manufacture and control; manufacturing operations management and quality systems; advanced manufacturing technology; and management and business innovation.
Students are assessed throughout the apprenticeship via exams, coursework, work-based projects and case studies.
The MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Government agency Innovate UK.