Dales Fabrication Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week
Maggie Throup MP visits Dales in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week:
MP Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament for Erewash, visited Dales In celebration of National Apprenticeship week 2024. Her visit followed her highlighting our investment in a new Safan 4m Hybrid press-brake during the recent Finance Bill debate, reported in Hansard.
As part of the visit, Maggie met and spoke with six of Dales former & current apprentices.
Former apprentices include David Pritchard BEng and Sam Frost BEng who have both completed Level 6 apprenticeships in Manufacturing Engineering (BEng), Oliver Wright, who has completed a level 2 Supply Chain & Warehouse Operative apprenticeship and Alex Millington who has completed a Level 5 apprenticeship in Integrated Engineering (HNC), and hopes to achieve his Manufacturing Engineering BEng in the near future.
The current apprentices are Steven Alldridge who is studying a level 3 apprenticeship in Metal Fabrication and Ashley Davis who is studying a level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration.
During the visit, Maggie was shown around Dales Offices, Factory & Paint plant. She was able to see first-hand apprenticeships across a spectrum of levels, from traditional craft-apprenticeships to degree-level programmes.
Maggie was able to witness the value of apprenticeships in bridging the gap between education and real-world work experience and the positive impact of Dales firm commitment to the apprenticeship framework. Additionally, open conversation was had about concerns regarding apprenticeships. These concerns include problems with the breadth of programmes on offer and funding limitations for higher-level apprenticeships.
Speaking during the visit, Maggie said:
“I was inspired by the dedication and passion of both the apprentices and senior management team. It is clear that Dales are not only investing in the future of their workforce but also in our community as a whole. I am honoured to support initiatives like these that empower individuals to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to our economy.”
Dales Chairman, Karl Prosser, said:
“Just like her previous visits we found Maggie Throup MP to be fully engaged with the apprenticeship principle and eager to speak up in favour of the apprentice-model. On this visit, we were able to build on Maggie’s previous visits by introducing her to management level staff who have now graduated with their Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degrees, one of whom she had previously met whilst he was still an apprentice back in 2017. Maggie was able to see first-hand how we combine education, real-world work experience and ultimately progression into an overall training-approach.”
National Apprenticeship week 2024:
This year, National Apprenticeship week takes place between the 5th to the 11th of February. It is a chance to celebrate and recognise the achievements of apprentices, and the positive impact apprenticeships have for communities, businesses & the economy.