Four engineering apprentices from Bolton and Wigan travelled to BAe in Warton with conservative parliamentary candidate Christopher Green to meet with Prime Minister David Cameron and learn about the launch of a new degree apprenticeship scheme.

The visit was arranged as part of National Apprenticeship Week which aims to raise the profile and celebrate the achievements of apprenticeships across the UK.

Callum Jackson and Ben Edwards from Silcoms in Bolton and Craig Slater and Joe Seddon from Hovis in Wigan are all currently completing Mechanical Engineering Apprentices with Horwich based Alliance Learning

They joined over 300 apprentices from the region to listen to a speech given by David Cameron and then had the opportunity to be involved in a question and answer session with the Prime Minister.

They were also given an exclusive update on the launch of a new degree apprenticeship scheme. Lee Morris, the Engineering Business Improvement Manager from Alliance Learning said:

“The announcement by Prime Minster David Cameron of the new degree level apprenticeship scheme is fantastic news and is sure to benefit hundreds of young people in the region who are struggling to decide which route to take in their Further Education.

“Alliance Learning already offer level 4 Higher Apprenticeships, but the degree level apprenticeship scheme will mean that the companies we work with, like Silcoms and Hovis, are able to go even further in recruiting, training and retaining the very best talent in the region to work for them.”

Carl Goodwin, Site Engineering Manager from Hovis in Wigan said:

“Our apprentices, Craig and Joe, have just completed their first year of basic training to achieve an NVQ level 2 and received glowing reports from the instructors at Alliance Learning and the Wigan Engineering Department. In recognition of their hard work, we were delighted to give them this incredible opportunity to meet the Prime Minister. Craig and Jow are now working towards an NVQ level 3 as part of a 4 year site development plan.”

One of the apprentices who attended the event, Callum Jackson from Silcoms, said:

“I enjoyed my visit to BAe Systems at Wharton, especially seeing all fighter aircraft at the various stages of the build process. I was also pleased to meet the Prime Minister David Cameron and I was able to ask him a few questions and felt involved in the whole event. The day was very enjoyable and was able to learn new and useful information from some important people.”

If you would like any more information, call Alliance Learning on 01204 689592.