The internationally acclaimed University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, together with Sheffield College, are happy to announce the creation of an apprenticeship scheme for young men and women ages 16 to 19 scheduled to begin September 2006. In the new scheme, apprentices will receive technical training at the AMRC and receive national vocational qualifications from Sheffield College.

"We've developed the idea as an answer to the engineering skills shortage we're experiencing in the region," says Head of Dynamics Group for the AMRC, Sam Turner. "We are happy to choose Sheffield College to partner with us on this project. We hope the AMRC's one-of-a-kind facilities and partnerships will attract ambitious engineers to be trained on some of the most high-tech manufacturing equipment in the world."

The group of ten apprentices, three who will be taken on at the AMRC, and seven others who will be employed by local AMRC partner companies, will begin their training in September and receive full accreditation from the course obtaining NVQ level 2; NVQ level 3; MA full framework certificate; and an AMA framework certificate. Traditionally, it has taken four to five years to receive these qualifications, but in this new programme, apprentices will receive their qualifications in two to three years. Additionally, participants will receive essential job-skills that cannot be taught in a classroom environment.

AMRC Project Manager, Ashley Godbehere will lead the interview process for the new scheme.

"What we're looking for are students with four A to C grades in maths, english and science based subjects," says Godbehere. "We hope to give young people with a passion for engineering the opportunity of a lifetime to work on some of the biggest projects in aerospace."

After completing the programme, graduates of the scheme will then have the opportunity to pursue a higher education or further education degree. The new scheme looks to reduce the engineering skills shortage that is affecting the Yorkshire region.

Julie Byrne, Director of Castle College, welcomed the launch of the new apprenticeship scheme and says, "This launch is excellent news for our students and for employers and we are delighted to be working with such highly acclaimed partners."

"This ground breaking partnership strikes at the very heart of work based experience," says Eddie Davies of Sheffield College Business and Development Unit. "It will go some way to offset the dramatic skills shortage that is now affecting the engineering sector."

Individuals interested in participating in the programme should contact Eddie Davies of Sheffield College by phone at 0114-260-2166; or by email at edward.davies@shefcol.ac.uk. Prospective students can also contact Ashley Godbehere of the AMRC by email at a.godbehere@amrc.co.uk.

Notes to the editor:

About The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing is a £45million partnership, which builds on the shared scientific excellence, expertise and technological innovation of the world's leading aerospace company, Boeing, and world-class research within the University of Sheffield's Faculty of Engineering. It develops innovative and advanced technology solutions for machining and materials forming and assembly. It also has internationally acknowledged research in the field of composite materials, an area crucial to the development of Boeing's next generation aircrafts. For further information about the AMRC please contact Timothy Scherer, PR and Communication Manager for the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre by phone at (0114) 222 7676 on the web at www.amrc.co.uk or e-mail at t.scherer@amrc.co.uk.

About Sheffield College

COLLEGE MISSION: To meet the agreed needs of the individual learner and build the foundation of skills necessary for the economic and social development of Sheffield and the surrounding region.

Based in the heart of the city, Castle College offers inventive and modern career-focussed courses, designed to create the best possible opportunities for students to progress into work or further study. Castle College's unique 'routes to careers' method involves close consultation with employers to find out exactly what they look for in an employee - and a course is then designed to meet those requirement.