Doors open at new BITA Academy for next-generation industrial truck apprenticeships
Nov 02, 2011
The British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and City of Bristol College have cemented their new strategic partnership with the official opening of the BITA Academy by Jack Lopresti MP.
The BITA Academy has been created to offer a dedicated industrial truck apprenticeship scheme in the UK leading to an Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) accredited forklift truck apprenticeship. Apprentices pursuing the College's IMI Awards accredited Diploma in FLT engineering can now also graduate with a unique BITA-branded 'IMI Awards Quality Assured' certificate. Recruitment for apprenticeships starting in January 2012, has now begun.
Guest of honour and local MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, Jack Lopresti, unveiled a plaque marking the occasion following a short address from the following dignitaries: BITA President, Tim Waples; Principal of City of Bristol College, Keith Elliott CBE; IMI National Manager for England, Jon Douglass; BITA Board member Bill Goodwin, who has been the driving force in establishing BITA's partnership with City of Bristol College; and the newly appointed BITA Programme Training Manager, Karl Baum.
IMI National Manager for England, Jon Douglass, said: "The BITA Academy greatly enhances employment opportunities for graduates of the apprenticeship scheme and maximises the opportunities for retaining newly-skilled people within the sector. As a trade association, BITA is able to offer a pooling scheme for its graduate apprentices. This will enable free movement of newly trained engineers between participating companies giving apprentices the best possible chance of securing a job after completion of their courseeven if their original sponsoring companies are restricted on headcount."
Forklift truck sales continue to rise in the UK, out-performing the economy as a whole. As a result, the forklift truck sector needs to attract high-quality apprentices to secure continued availability of qualified engineers in the sector. At a time when the numbers of young people not in education or employment are rising, the BITA Academy offers young people not only high-quality training in essential maintenance and repair techniques but also the skills required to pursue a real career all the way to management level.
Electric trucks make up approximately half of the modern UK industrial truck market which means that electrical engineering and diagnostic skills are required in the marketplace, in addition to the more traditional skill-set gained from an automotive focused course.
Course programme content is tailored specifically for BITA and its members, delivered by a structured training team using dedicated workshops and branded course materials. Candidates will be welcomed from all companies, and you don't have to be a BITA member to participate.
Principal of City of Bristol College, Keith Elliott CBE, said: "This joint initiative combines a completely new approach to forklift training at a new facility (the BITA Academy). City of Bristol College is the UK's largest training centre for the forklift truck industry, with all students working exclusively on forklift products. With 30 years' experience in delivering apprenticeship training for young people and adults, it is now one of the most successful colleges in the UK. We are excited about the new BITA Academy and the closer relationship with industrial truck manufacturers, suppliers and service firms this brings."
Government policy has recognised the importance of apprenticeships and several rounds of dedicated funding for apprenticeships have been announced. City of Bristol College is working with the funding bodies to ensure that it is able to maximise the number of apprenticeships on offer in the coming years.
Jack Lopresti MP, said: "It is a pleasure to see the coming together of Government policy initiatives, academia and industry in such an effective manner in my constituency. The BITA Academy promises to lead to quality training and real career prospects for young people in a sector which actively wants to attract significant numbers of apprentices to replace retiring employees. The time seems right for this initiative and I wish it well."
