Nationwide Platforms opens 12 apprenticeships

Nationwide Platforms has announced that it is offering 12 new apprenticeships as part of its celebration of National Apprenticeship Week in the UK.

The UK’s National Apprenticeship Week, which this year began on 8 February and ends on the 14 February, shines a light on the work of both employers and apprentices across the country.

The powered access rental company has opened applications for six engineering apprentices and six driver operator apprentices. Successful candidates will be trained to work with the company’s 13,000-strong fleet of rental equipment, which comprises a wide range of machines.

Paul Rankin, COO of Nationwide Platforms, said, “Nationwide Platforms is proud to support National Apprenticeship Week with the opportunity for 12 new apprentices to join our business. Our ethos is to instil transport and engineering excellence into the next generation and inspire continuous improvement of powered access safety and best practice.”

Nationwide Platforms’ Engineering Apprenticeship is three years long and has been designed to teach apprenticeships essential engineering skills while they work towards an NVQ Level 2 and 3 Plant Maintenance qualification.

The company said apprentices would also receive considerable on-the-job training and would gradually be given more responsibility as they progress on the course.

Nationwide Platform’s Driver Operator Apprenticeship, which runs for a full year, includes a seven-day intensive driver training programme that allows apprentices to get their Class 2 driver’s licence.

The course provides apprenticeships with classroom training from the National Logistics Academy in Manchester and has been designed to equip them with the qualifications to become professional drivers “who positively represent the brand”.

Adam Revell, Head of Technical Training at Nationwide Platforms, said, “Every apprentice is given a dedicated Nationwide Platforms mentor to help train, guide and support them through their apprenticeship.

“These are typically fellow engineers with many years of knowledge to share with the apprentices. We provide training to the mentors to give them coaching skills, and they enjoy being able to give something back through mentoring,”

He added, “Apprentices are the future. This is not just an important investment for Nationwide Platforms, but for the industry as a whole. HGV drivers and engineering are two of the biggest skills gaps out there, and we’ve got to bring more young people through. Our commitment to 12 new apprentices helps widen the talent pool for everybody.”