Semta Apprenticeship Service in Dartford

Skills expert Semta has joined forces with the Leigh University Technical College (UTC) in a bid to deliver more high quality apprenticeships in north Kent.

The employer-led Semta Apprenticeship service has contacted businesses in the UTC’s catchment area around Dartford to support them to take on engineering apprentices.

Steve Leahey, the Principal of the Leigh UTC said, “When we set up two years ago, our vision was to deliver engineering apprenticeships. We needed someone with the experience, understanding of the business and the sector so it made perfect sense to work with Semta Apprenticeship Service.”

Jay Wright, Leigh’s Director of ApprenticeshipsM said: “We have taken on nine apprentices since September 2016 from Kenard, Stead and Wilkins, Boddingtons Plastics and Cubic Transportation Systems. They are doing very well and had very positive feedback from their employers about the course and how well the apprentices are settling in.”

Tom Stone, is an apprentice with Kenard Engineering, which specialises in high precision manufacturing of components for the aerospace, oil and gas and telecoms industries, studying a Level 4 in manufacturing engineering at Leigh.

He said he decided on an apprenticeship: “Because it is hands on and practical and gives me the opportunity to learn skills and then use them in a work environment. “There is a large workshop at Leigh that has industry standard tools and equipment that we can use and make parts on and learn new processes and learn about new tools.

His colleague Harry Tindall, also from Kenard, said: “I am not really an academic person and I don’t think uni would the best path for me at the moment. I’m also getting paid to learn new skills every day. The UTC has so much equipment to help evolve your skills and make you a better engineer.”

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