East Durham College has introduced an exciting new programme for its apprenticeships provision. In September 2022, the college began offering Level 2 Land-Based Engineering apprenticeships, aiming to provide people from the area with realistic, industry-relevant training in this field.
The initial programme has started with a cohort of ten Level 2 apprentices and – as the programme’s development is constantly ongoing - the college will be introducing L3 Advanced Apprenticeships in Land-Based Service Engineering from May 2023.
East Durham College has invested heavily in the creation of brand new land-based engineering facilities at its Houghall campus in Durham including a state-of-the-art workshop and a myriad of tools and equipment which mirror those in industry. The current cohort of Level 2 apprentices are the first to benefit from this world-class industry training facility.
The programme is being run in close partnership and collaboration with employers from our region, ensuring that the provision is responding to the skills priorities employers have. Partners EDC is working with on its land-based service engineering provision include industry leaders such as Briggs & Stratton, Russels Group, Lloyds Ltd and Bryan Robinson Machinery Ltd. With input from these employers, the college can constantly develop the programme to suit employer needs. This connected, collaborative approach brings education and industry together, ensuring that apprentices develop the relevant skills, knowledge and behaviours required for a successful career in industry. Employers benefit from having fully-trained, enthusiastic employees who can add real value to their business.
Throughout this apprenticeship programme, apprentices will work on equipment that is actually used on Houghall’s fully working farm, ensuring that they complete real scenario repairs just like they would in industry, rather than working in simulated environments.
Apprentices work 40 hours a week with their employers, DA Armstrong, Courtfiels ATV, MGL Group, Briggs & Stratton, Russels Group, Lloyds Ltd and Bryan Robinson Machinery Ltd and spend one day per week at our Houghall Campus training from highly experienced lecturer Mike Herrington.
Through a partnership approach to training, we are preparing these apprentices for a successful career and endless opportunities in their future and we look forward to seeing what they achieve.
