BW Magazine learns more about SETA’s longstanding commitment to supporting young people and the business community, and its track record of success in doing so.
Through apprenticeships, SETA is equipping young people from the North East with the skills they need to enjoy successful careers in engineering, working closely with businesses to create the workforces which will enable them to thrive.
For over 50 years, SETA has been at the forefront of training in the North East’s engineering sector. Supporting young people to achieve their potential and career dreams, while also enabling businesses to grow through the addition of specially trained and highly skilled employees, SETA continues to be vital to the creation of workforces of the future throughout the region.
Working closely with multi-national names including Siemens and Liebherr, alongside a host of businesses in the Nissan supply chain, every year SETA helps in the recruitment and development of the next generation of talent to join their teams.
From its centre in Washington – which has both workshop and classroom facilities, to enable the development of knowledge and practical skills – SETA works with employers to create bespoke apprenticeship programmes to ensure the employees they are training meet the exact needs of the business. Industry-leading training is delivered by mentors who themselves have a wealth of skills and experience of working in engineering.
And its track record is impressive indeed. Over the years, SETA has contributed many hundreds of apprentices to the region’s workforce, many of whom have progressed to enjoy long and successful careers with multi-national employers.
With an end point assessment pass rate of 100 per cent for its apprenticeship programmes, this year it will take on another (approx. 100) apprentices, who begin their fully-funded programmes in September. In addition to the core four-year apprenticeship programmes, HNC and degree-level apprenticeships are also delivered.
Supporting young people and businesses alike over the course of over 50 years, SETA’s reputation now speaks for itself, with more businesses choosing the training provider to oversee its apprenticeship provision each year, and increasing numbers of students opting to join SETA rather than go to college.
“I was chatting with someone just the other day and I mentioned I work at SETA. It turned out their brother was a SETA apprentice many years ago, he is now a senior manager with a global energy company and flies around the world through his job,” says Suzanne Jovanovic, head of apprenticeship engagement at SETA.
“That is just one example of someone who has trained with us who has gone on to great things. We have many CEOs, MDs and really senior people as SETA Alumni, who started out as apprentices with us.
“And that is what an apprenticeship can give you – massive potential, opportunities to travel, progress, develop and thrive. Brilliant careers are built here and we are always excited to see what our apprentices will go on to achieve.”
Each year, SETA recruits widely for apprentices, with hundreds of applications being received and a final 96 being chosen after a stringent selection process. Employers, should they wish, can recruit apprentices directly and then have them trained by the SETA team, or else SETA will work with businesses to place the young people found through their extensive recruitment.
In a unique delivery model, following their first year spent in the SETA training centre, apprentices will then be placed with their employer, supported by regular visits from their mentors at SETA. The close support continues throughout their time as an apprentice.
“We teach the highest standards in knowledge, skills and behaviours,” says Suzanne.
“We offer real experience of life and work, with hands-on training from day one, and of course the ability to learn. But while they may initially be learning in our centre, from the day they start their apprenticeship, they are treated as employees.
“We monitor their attendance and time keeping, and their employers are told if they are late. They are expected to clean up after themselves in the workshop. They take responsibility for themselves. We’re teaching life skills, as well as the skills they need to actually do the job. We help them make it into a career.”
The quality of training SETA is known for delivering makes it an appealing choice for apprentices and businesses alike, with its reach extending well beyond its Wearside base. Suzanne tells how apprentices from Egger in Hexham travel past several other apprenticeship providers each day to get to Washington, on a bus provided by their employer.
“Apprenticeships with us are such a brilliant opportunity for young people, there is a huge amount to learn, but we have shown over many years that there is a very successful alternative route into a senior engineering career than the traditional T-levels, college courses or university,” says Suzanne.
“We know colleges have their in-house gyms and Starbucks, and there can be the temptation for young people to follow their friends when they leave school – but SETA has been doing this for over 50 years, and there is nowhere better to be trained than here.
“An apprenticeship is hard work and takes a lot of commitment, and it is a big decision for a young person to take on a role with a typical five weeks’ holiday a year when your friends at college will still be enjoying six weeks off in the summer alone. But it’s a hugely rewarding opportunity with massive potential for a really exciting career ahead.”
To learn more about apprenticeships at SETA, either as a potential applicant or an employer, visit:
www.seta.co.uk/apprentice
