Engineers take on new apprentices

Two keen apprentices have been taken on by an historic Birmingham engineering company thanks to employment courses they completed with PTP Training.

Jake Westwood (aged 23) and Kaine Allen (aged 18), who are both from Walsall, have been taken on by Midland Tank & Ironplate Co Ltd (MTI) to complete engineering apprenticeships.

The appointments came after they successfully completed Work Skills courses with PTP Training, which trades as Performance Through People and arranges and runs hundreds of apprenticeships a year at employers across the region.

MTI was founded in 1915 to construct water tanks to fit on camels’ backs and is now a 4th generation family business that focuses on sub-contracted manufacturing and sheet metal fabrication.

Kevin Newell, training centre manager at PTP, which is part of the BCTG Group, said: “Jake started off undertaking a Level 1 Performing Engineering Operations course with PTP Training. His keenness shone through and we were pleased to welcome him back onto the Black Country Impact-funded Level 2 Work Skills course.

“Kaine also joined us on the Work Skills course where they both undertook work in CV-writing, job applications, teamwork and producing a product. Both showed themselves to be good candidates for an apprenticeship and we were delighted for them when they gained the opportunity to apply for the role of apprentice engineering operatives with MTI.

“MTI provides an excellent opportunity for them to learn and practice a wide range of engineering skills to support their apprenticeship from producing blanks, forming, welding and finishing operations. With such great outcomes for our learners it makes the work we do at PTP Training all the more worthwhile.”

Both Jake and Kaine explained that their interest in their new apprenticeships had come from various members of their families who had worked in engineering.

Jake said: “My dad and grandad had both worked in engineering, and the courses I took at PTP enabled me to get my placement with MTI, where I’m enjoying learning to handle a variety of different machines.”

Kaine said: “I joined a course with PTP and learned everything that I could before getting this apprenticeship with MTI, where everyone’s been really welcoming. Lots of people in my family went into engineering and I’m now learning how to use machines to make things and will be trained in things like how to weld properly to follow them into this career.”

Noel Turner, a manager at MTI, which is based in Heneage Street, Duddeston, said: “We had an initial meeting with PTP’s apprenticeships team and were impressed with the background learning they delivered to trainees. We’re now delighted to have Jake and Kaine with us and look forward to helping them acquire the high-quality engineering skills that MTI has been delivering to clients for more than 100 years.”

The Work Skills courses were provided via Black Country Impact, which is funded via European Social Fund, Community Lottery and Match funding from partners.

Pictured: Kaine Allen and Jake Westwood