RARUK AUTOMATION JOINS AUTOMATE UK’S FIRST APPRENTICESHIP CLUSTER CREATED TO TACKLE UK SKILLS GAP
Leading robotics distributor RARUK Automation Limited is one of five companies forming Automate UK’s first Apprenticeship Cluster. RARUK Automation Limited’s Robotics Engineer Apprentice Ewan Sharp is set to complete England’s first Robotics degree-level apprenticeship from MK:U. Ewan’s role predominantly focuses on programming feasibility trials for the Universal Robots range of collaborative robots (cobots) for manufacturing companies considering automation.
“[Automate UK’s Apprenticeship Cluster] is a good opportunity to meet other apprentices in the same industry.” Said Ewan. “It provides us with a community to share knowledge and learn more about similar companies in our area.”
“RARUK Automation is proud to be part of the Automate UK Apprenticeship Cluster.” Commented Darren Reynolds, Group Managing Director of RARUK Holdings Limited. “It is a great platform for any budding engineer; it provides a great community of similar companies in which to collaborate with, sharing experiences and training opportunities. The scheme provides a great foundation for future skills and talent.”
Automate UK Launches Groundbreaking Apprenticeship Cluster
On Tuesday 14 January, Automate UK brought together businesses and apprentices from across the Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and North Buckinghamshire area to celebrate the launch of its Apprenticeship Cluster, an innovative new initiative designed to address critical skills shortages in the Manufacturing industry.
The groundbreaking Apprenticeship Cluster program aims to deliver top-tier training opportunities for young people through a collaborative approach, uniting business leaders, educators, and apprentices to shape the future workforce.
Automate UK’s pioneering framework of Apprenticeship Clusters will allow businesses to attract and retain talent by offering reciprocal training opportunities, team building events, and value-adding projects that benefit both employees and their organisations.
Each cluster will consist of 4 to 8 member companies and will operate under three core pillars: Partnership, Training, and Talent Pipeline. This model enables businesses to share best practices in apprenticeship training, promote interest in manufacturing careers, and expand the talent pool for member companies and their end users.
Commenting on the launch, Peter Williamson, Chief Executive of Automate UK said “This initiative represents a significant step forward for our sector. By working together, we can ensure young people are equipped with the skills they need while creating opportunities for businesses to thrive in an ever increasingly competitive marketplace. This project is fully funded through our charity, Automate BEST – using some of the hard-earned profits of our members, to create a sustainable future for our sector and our future workforce.”
The initiative is launched as the UK continues to face a shortage of engineers and technicians, impacting economic growth & infrastructure development. The shortage of critical skills poses substantial economic cost, with the Public Accounts Committee warning last year that the UK currently lacks the expertise and capacity required to successfully deliver major infrastructure projects.
This new Apprenticeship Cluster is only the beginning, with plans for more across the country in the hope they will play an important in addressing the skills gap and ensuring the manufacturing industry is prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow with a highly skilled and capable workforce. Automate UK Member organisations kicking off the initiative include Domino UK Limited, SMC Corporation (UK) Limited, RARUK Automation Limited, Endoline Machinery Limited, and Huxley Bertram Engineering Limited.
Minister for Industry Sarah Jones MP said:
“This marks a step towards ensuring our manufacturing sector has the skills and talent it needs to deliver growth and keep the UK at the cutting-edge of automation technologies.
“Our Industrial Strategy will double down on this with advanced manufacturing as one of its key growth sectors, driving the jobs and skills we need to turbocharge AI, and helping us deliver our Plan for Change.”
