By Sarah Walker
When it comes to making a meaningful, positive difference to employers on Aycliffe Business Park, NC Group is a hard act to follow.
The private training provider prides itself on providing training excellence to meet the ever-evolving needs of industry, at the same time as investing in people.
Nowhere is that more evident than in its latest venture with 3M, which has seen the transformation of a training space into a bespoke workshop for 3M apprentices.
Ian Nelson, managing director of NC Group, explains how the workshop, which was designed and kitted out by the apprentices themselves, is now set up to for delivery.
He said: “We have converted a training room into a bespoke training workshop for 3M apprentices.
“Two of the apprentices are studying their level 3 Science Industry Maintenance Technician apprenticeship and we have another apprentice studying on the level 3 engineering technician apprenticeship who will take up a quality role at 3M plant.
“We have now got several companies on the park who are training their people with us. I think for employers on the park, it’s good to know that, as a private training provider for the engineering and manufacturing industries, we are right on their doorstep.”
Ian and his team believe there are many advantages to training staff through NC Group, including supporting skills gaps and improving time efficiencies.
In this new venture with 3M, NC Group collaborated with the key stakeholders at 3M, to create a bespoke training programme to meet the needs of the apprentices and the business.
The apprentice programmes give the apprentices hands-on experience that is as close to their own shop floor experience at 3M as they can get.
“We have set up a workshop to allow the apprentices to do all the practical activities here, the same as what they would be expected to do at 3M,” says Darren Tate, NC Group’s apprenticeship manager.
“For the first year, the apprentices attend full time to do the technical skills and knowledge development required for their roles.
“They will be learning about health and safety, using hand tools, maintenance procedures and techniques, electrical systems, basic machining, process automation and BIT.
He added: “To provide a real work environment for the apprentices, we have installed the 3M core values in the workshop and when the apprentices carry out risk assessments, they follow 3M’s procedures and use the company’s own risk assessment documents.
“After this year, the apprentices will return to site at 3M and will start work in their roles as trainee apprentice technicians.
“They will continue to attend one day per week to develop their understanding of engineering theory and will be assessed on their skills development in the workplace.”
NC Group also currently has 12 staff from INEOS Compounds on a level 3 team leading apprenticeship.
However, it is also able to accommodate smaller employers who only want one or two apprentices.
NC Group believes it has a significant positive impact on local employers, by providing support and intervention where skills gaps are needed.
They work with individual employers to understand skills need and what their staff need to know, in addition to what has to be taught as part of their apprenticeship.
This means that things like forklift training skills provide added value to the 3M apprenticeship.
A massive step forward was enabling the 3M apprentices to set the workshop up from scratch, which has also given them real world experience and skills.
Lee Childs, director of NC Group, says: “The three apprentices have been excellent – everything that we’ve asked them to do, they have done and they are definitely a credit to 3M.
“We will continue to invest in our resources and facilities to continue to provide up to date facilities and training as industry evolves.
“The idea is we attract really good young people and continue to meet the needs of industry for years to come.”
Find out more about NC Group and its services at ncgroupltd.co.uk.
• NC Group’s Ian Nelson (right) and Lee Childs (left) with apprentices James Graham, Harry Newrick and Joseph Birchall and John Bayne from 3M.