The apprentice...
July 1st 2006

Enthusiastic candidates hungry for a life-changing apprenticeship and rewarding future career are needed for a national programme. No, not working for Sir Alan Sugar, but as a fork lift truck engineer.

The Fork Lift Truck Association has introduced a National Apprenticeship Programme to combat the serious shortage of skilled service engineers, a situation which will get worse unless the entire materials handling industry takes action now.

Nationally, engineering has a rapidly ageing workforce, as engineers retiring have not been replaced by as many new recruits. David Ellison, chief executive, comments "I would urge all employers to count how many of their engineers are in their forties and fifties the majority in most cases and take steps to ensure there are enough trainees coming through to fill that gap."

The FLTA believes apprentice training is an ideal solution for trainees and employers alike, combining useful work-based experience with an element of relevant, technical study and the new programme will make the whole process easy for all concerned.

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