Inside the new manufacturing academy which can upskill apprentices and support workforces
UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY SAINT DAVID IS MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION THROUGH ITS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SKILLS ACADEMY
THESE days the manufacturing industry could do with just as much help as the next line of business.
So, the emergence of a new ally could not have come at a better time.
The recently-established Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy (AMSA) at University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) promises to make a real impact in the Covid-19 recovery support package for industry.
It was made possible through a
£1 million funding package from the Welsh Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. That serious sum aims to develop the vital skills required by manufacturing apprentices and employers to deliver the technologies that keep the industry in Wales globally competitive. Academy manager Lee Pratt said it aimed to ensure that apprentices had access to the latest manufacturing technology. “Our primary focus is to provide machining experience to apprentices for manufacturing companies so they can hit the ground running, rather than having to go through a lengthy in-house induction process,” he said. “The new training academy will ensure that apprentices can make an impact on their companies from day one.”
Part of the Covid-19 recovery service package
AMSA, based at UWTSD’s IQ building in SA1 Swansea Waterfront has actually been going for 18 months, 12 months of which were a pilot project.
Now, it is driving on at an opportune time to help with the post-pandemic fightback.
“We want to attract more apprentices from industry” said Lee. “We think of it as an apprentice training facility first and foremost.
“I would like to extend it to a wider audience. We want to approach local industry for workforce upskilling. We’ve invested in the latest generation of machines and tools. So if there are local companies looking to invest in technology then we are well placed to assist them.”
Skills Competition Wales set for UWTSD
The academy’s emergence has resulted in it being invited to host the finals of Skills Competition Wales.
Entrants, some of whom are apprentices there, will be allowed on-site within the parameters of Covid-19 restrictions, to go through their paces cutting metal using a computer-controlled machine.
Hosting Skills Competition Wales on April 21 and 22 is an important step in highlighting the work of the academy, as well as creating opportunities for its apprentices.
“This competition is an exciting opportunity to raise the profile of the academy within the industry sector,” said Lee. “We have entered the apprentices into the competition to not only give them a platform to display their talents nationwide but to also enhance their training with us.
“We believe that by taking them out of their comfort zone and placing them in a competition environment it will expose them to some of the demands and pressures found daily in a modern manufacturing environment.”
The competition will give competitors seven hours to produce a component from a 2D drawing and 3D CAD (computer-aided design) model with the use of CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) software and a CNC (computer numerical control) machining centre.
If the academy’s apprentices are successful in the competition, they will be invited to attend the awards ceremony, which is usually held in Cardiff but is likely to be online this year due to Covid-19.
“We will then be putting them forward to compete in the World Skills Competition,” said Lee.
It is all about being in the right place at the right time, and the academy ticks that box. “We are approaching companies to ask how can we assist them,” said Lee. “Is there any skills gap shortage within their workforce that we could perhaps rectify? There is a number of different approaches we want to take here in regards to helping industry.
“As a university, we’ve got strong links with industry at present. We want to expand on that and cement further relationships with industry.”
Giving opportunities to shine
Lee is looking forward to witnessing the impact the academy can make inside and outside the campus.
“What excites me is opening this up to further industries, so getting larger numbers of apprentices through the door,” he said. “It’s really rewarding to see these youngsters flourish in that environment after a short period of time.
“I was an apprentice myself many moons ago, so I’ve been through the full cycle and I have the opportunity to give back which is great. Having that opportunity to work with these youngsters again and seeing them flourish.
“It is about trying to keep a fluid approach towards training. There isn’t a one size fits all solution to this, so we are supporting individual companies and addressing their training needs and tailoring the support to that.”
For more information on the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy, visit the website www.uwtsd.ac.uk/ manufacturing-skills-academy