Prime Minister David Cameron was full of praise for Rolls-Royce's Apprentice Academy when he visited Derby yesterday, saying it was an example which the rest of the UK should follow. Derby Telegraph Business editor Robin Johnson reports.
THE sight that greeted Prime Minister David Cameron when he toured the workshops of Rolls-Royce's Apprentice Academy must have given him a warm glow.
Dozens of fresh-faced teenagers, resplendent in their distinctive blue Rolls-Royce boiler suits, were busily putting together components.
In fact, it was a sight that would have put a smile on the face of any boss of a British high-tech manufacturer, to see the next generation of UK engineers fully engrossed in their work.
There is concern in the industry over a lack of young people taking up a career in engineering.
The purpose of the Rolls-Royce Academy is to help set that right – to nurture and teach students in a way that engages them.
Class-based theory has its place – and forms an important part of what the apprentices do at the £6 million academy.
But if these fledgling engineers are to really hit the ground running when they finish their three-year apprenticeship then they also need to match the theory with practical experience.
This means rolling up their sleeves, getting their hands dirty and actually building things.
That is what Mr Cameron witnessed during his visit to the Wilmore Road site yesterday.
During his walkabout, the Prime Minister made his way past a jungle of lathes, CNC machines and even a real-life Rolls-Royce aero engine on which the apprentices put the theory into practice.
In short, the three-storey, 3,850 square metre academy is kitted out with more or less the same equipment found on the firm's production line.
Mr Cameron stopped a number of times to talk to apprentices, quizzing them on how they had come to be there.
At the end of his tour, he was clearly impressed by the apprentices he met and with what he had seen – and called for more of the same.
He said: "It has been remarkable meeting the Rolls-Royce apprentices.
"The Rolls-Royce Academy is a real model for the rest of the country and I'd like to see more of them.
"There are not enough places with these kind of facilities. The Government will play its part in helping to change that."
The Government did play its part in creating the Rolls-Royce Academy, which was officially opened by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne last year, who hailed it as a "fantastic facility" and a huge asset to the city and country.
Based at the firm's Learning and Career Development Centre, it was jointly funded by Rolls-Royce and the Government.
And it is not just Rolls-Royce that stands to benefit from the investment.
As well as training apprentices for the aero engine firm, it also trains young people who work for its suppliers and other manufacturing companies across the region.
Before the centre was created, Rolls-Royce trained about 200 apprentices a year.
The academy has doubled that number.
During his tour, Mr Cameron met a number of the academy's first years.
Two of them, Aiden Rogers and Kurt Clarke-Roome, both from Derby, moved up from the country's first ever University Technical College – the JCB Academy, at Rocester, for 14-to-19-year-olds.
Aiden and Kurt were among the first batch of students to complete their A-level studies at the academy, which opened in 2010 and takes youngsters from Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
Aiden, 20, of Littleover, who yesterday showed Mr Cameron around the workshops, said: "I'd applied to five different universities, as well as to the Rolls-Royce Academy, and was lucky enough to be offered a place.
"The JCB Academy gave me a solid grounding and prepared me well for making the move to Rolls-Royce."
By becoming an apprentice, Aiden is also following a family tradition.
His grandfather, Peter Banks, worked for Rolls-Royce and his mum, Jane Rogers, currently works at the firm.
He said: "It's something I've always wanted to do – and I'm learning from the best.
"I hope my apprenticeship represents the start of a long and successful career with Rolls-Royce."
One particular line of questioning Mr Cameron had for them was about the path they had taken into apprenticeships – asking whether they felt schools and colleges were doing enough to promote apprenticeships as the next stage in their education, alongside the more traditional route of university.
Aiden said: "The Prime Minister was really keen to know how we had become interested in being apprentices. For me, I wanted to get a degree, but I was also keen to start gathering the technical expertise required to have a career in engineering.
"As an apprentice, I'm actually able to study for a degree while also earning and learning my trade.
"I'm not sure whether many people my age are aware they can do that."
Kurt, 19, of Mackworth, said: "The Rolls-Royce Academy is just a fantastic place. Being able to put the theory work into practice is really interesting. Not only does it build up your competence but also your confidence."
Emma Allott, 20, of Mickleover, joined from Derby College.
She said: "I've only been at the academy for six months but I already love it here. I consider myself more of a visual learner, so to be able to be hands-on and actually perform tasks in the workshop is really good.
"I'm also starting to see more females join as apprentices, which is great. Gender doesn't matter – we are all part of the same team."
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