It is nearly ten years now since Caunton Engineering gained approval , from the awarding body EAL, for its Academy to become an accredited training centre. Since then, our ultra-modern Academy facilities have provided a model production line, aided to simulate and map the processes of an actual working production line and industrial environment, and thereby help to train apprentices. Not only for our own apprentices but many visiting novices, including consulting engineers and architects. The government is beginning to recognise the need for attracting apprentices and giving them real and meaningful facilities in which to learn their craft. In April this year the government introduced “a carrot” as well as “a stick” for companies to encourage this form of training. The stick is a levy of 0.5% of turnover, and the carrot? For every £1 paid into training an Apprentice, the Government will apply a further 10% top-up taking it to £1.10 in value. This means, employers in England who pay the levy and are committed to Apprenticeship training will be able to get more out than they pay in. This of course includes Caunton who can and will benefit. Caunton’s accreditation means the company can also benefit from other companies using Caunton’s Academy. The company never established an Apprentice Academy as a means of making money – the company needed and still needs skilled and enthusiastic recruits - but it is good to know the company is benefiting in other ways from a wise investment in their Academy.

On a personal level, in addition to the internal apprenticeships being delivered on site, one of Caunton’s employees is already benefiting from this scheme externally. Natalie Harris, our 2012 apprentice of the year, and also then a member of the prestigious national Industry Apprentice Council –see Caunton web site news 25.03.13 – is studying for her bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying at Nottingham Trent University, with her fees financed by the levy fund being earned by Caunton.