Local manufacturer Leyland Trucks has opened recruitment for its apprenticeship scheme, planning to take on a minimum of 17 apprentices to strengthen its team.

The company, based at Croston Road in Leyland, is recruiting 10 assembly operatives, four automotive engineers, two design engineers and one fabrication and welding engineer, having recently offered permanent positions to the 29 apprentices that completed their courses in 2020. 

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Each year, the company projects how many apprentices it needs to hire in order to fill skills gaps left by those retiring from the business and to meet new and emerging skill requirements, opting to introduce young talent to ensure they become an integral part of the succession planning of the business.

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Depending on the type of apprenticeship undertaken, and the area where the apprentice is due to work, the duration of an apprenticeship with Leyland Trucks last between two and five years. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the individual receives a recognised qualification which can then be used to progress their education and career further within the business. 

The apprenticeships are available to GCSE school leavers who achieve a minimum of five 9-4 grades at GCSE, including maths, English and science. Applicants for the design engineering will need a minimum of CCC at A-level/BTec – equivalent to 96 UCAS points – from an engineering related qualification.

Leyland Trucks HR Director, Ivan Shearer, said: “Every year we bring on a new stream of local, young talent who fully embrace our apprenticeship programme, throwing themselves into the world of engineering, and every year we get excited afresh about how much value they might each bring to the industry.

“Our current apprentices – like us – weren’t prepared for the turbulence the pandemic would inflict on the earliest days of their careers, but they each showed commitment to the programme and we were able to reward those graduating with the offer of permanent positions with the company. It’s essential that we retain such dedicated individuals and provide them with the opportunity to work with us for the long term.

“We’re looking forward to meeting everyone who comes forward for a position on our scheme, and hope to be able to say we have some of the industry’s future leaders working under our roof.”

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