NHS bigger worry than terrorism
HUNDREDS of new high-tech apprenticeships are to be offered in Coventry as a specialist technology centre goes from strength to strength.
The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Ansty Park has announced it will be more than trebling its apprentice intake over the next two years.
The centre is planning to provide training to 300 high quality apprentices a year by 2020.
The news comes as The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed the MTC has been approved to become a provider and placed on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP).
The MTC has seen record breaking attendances at its latest apprenticeship open evenings, inspiring future talent to a career in the world of advanced manufacturing and engineering. Paul Rowlett, managing director of the MTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, said, “We are delighted to have joined the Register of Approved Training Providers and we look forward to supporting the manufacturing sector with high quality apprenticeship training programmes.”
The DfE announcement means all levy funded employers will be able to spend their levy with the MTC on the advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programme.
Non-levy employers will also still be able to work with the MTC by using the government funded approach.
While the MTC continues to work with traditional 16-18-yearold apprentices it will also now be able to work with adults who are already in employment to either up-skill, multi-skill or retrain up to degree level apprenticeships.
Christian Warden, head of skills development for the MTC said, “The successful admission on to RoATP will allow the MTC to continue its future-focused world leading apprenticeship, skills and development programmes.
“This will allow employers to maximise their levy spend with our programmes, giving a genuine return on investment and business impact, while ensuring they become increasingly globally competitive.”
The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Lough- MORE people are worried about the future of the NHS than the threat of terrorism, research has suggested.
Nearly a third (32%) of UK residents who were polled stated funding cuts to the health service were their number one concern, a higher proportion than were most worried about terrorism (28%), despite a series of attacks over the past year.
The figure was also higher than those who expressed concern over the country’s economic future following Brexit (27%).
Nearly nine out of 10 (87%) people said they are concerned that if funding levels remain the same, the NHS will be at risk of complete collapse within the next five years.
The research was carried out by the Independent Health Professionals Association (IHPA), which warned of a growing disparity between staffing pressures and Government underfunding.