The Apprenticeship Clusters

Automate UK in collaboration with Automate BEST’s pioneering Apprenticeship Cluster framework, enables businesses to attract and retain talent through reciprocal training opportunities, collaborative team-building events, and value-driven projects that benefit both employees and their organisations.

Each Cluster will comprise of 4 to 8 member companies and will operate under three core pillars: Partnership, Training, and Talent Pipeline. This collaborative model facilitates the sharing of best practices in apprenticeship delivery, promotes careers in manufacturing, and broadens the talent pool available to member organisations and their end users.

PARTNERSHIP - The Cluster strengthens partnerships between member companies and shares best practices.

TRAINING - The Cluster is a collaborative initiative that looks to enhance the training of apprentices within member companies with peer support and training, networking, and leadership opportunities.

PIPELINE -To promote careers in manufacturing at local and national levels.

What the Cluster companies think:

“Being involved in the Cluster has been a really positive experience for Endoline. It’s a great opportunity for our apprentices to step outside of the business and independently showcase their skills while working alongside like-minded people from across the industry. The collaborative environment helps build confidence, encourages fresh thinking, and gives them valuable real-world experience that benefits both their personal development and the wider business.”

GRACE YATES.

MARKETING AND SALES ASSISTANT AT ENDOLINE

“The cluster project delivered many positives, with one of the most significant being the strong collaboration among the apprentices. Each brought their own individual strengths to the cluster, and they worked together seamlessly, driven by their shared interest in the engineering sector. Another major benefit was the exposure Christian and Harry gained to different engineering sectors. By working with four companies, each with unique specialities and operational approaches, they experienced practices that typically remain unseen until changing jobs. This broadened their understanding of diverse industries and enhanced their ability to bring fresh perspectives back to their own company.”

KEITH HUTTON,

WORKSHOP MANAGER AT HUXLEY BERTRAM

“I believe the cluster project was a good opportunity to work on a larger scale project that we as apprentices were managing from start to finish. An interesting part of the project was the collaboration with other apprentices from different companies which has allowed us to gain insight on how other companies are run and other technologies that we may have not been otherwise exposed too. Another unique experience of the project was partaking in the show where we were able to display our project and explore other companies and their products.”

DOMINIC JONES,

DOMINO APPRENTICE

Looking to Hire an Apprentice?

Alternatively, you may need new apprentices within your business. If you are an Automate UK member and need some help or advice, please contact us at info@automate-best.org.

Automate BEST is a working name for PPMA BEST, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity number 1156041. Registered address: New Progress house, 34 Stafford Road, Wallington, SM6 9AA