Contechs Awarded Charter for Success
A Warwick based automotive design and engineering services provider, is the 100th Warwickshire business to be awarded the prestigious Warwickshire County Council Employability Charter, for its commitment to supporting young people to succeed in the workplace.
Contechs has been awarded the Charter for its strong commitment to working with Warwickshire schools, and inspiring young people to follow a career in engineering by showing them what a dynamic and exciting sector it is with many high-tech career opportunities.
Introduced in 2015, the Employabililty Charter is awarded to local businesses for activities which encourage and facilitate employability skills among young people. It’s a key part of the County Council’s £2.4 million Skills for Employment programme to improve the employability skills and attributes of young people, so businesses can recruit more readily to address skills gaps.
Set up in 1997, Contechs - which last year turned over £65m and employs around 1,000 people across locations in the UK, Germany and India - attributes much of its success to its apprenticeship programme. The firm has worked with youngsters from Stratford on Avon School, and is now keen to work with other local schools.
Peter Jarvis, Contechs MD says: “We’re so proud to receive the Employability Charter for our commitment to supporting young people to succeed in the workplace. It’s at the heart of what we do. We currently have 15 technical apprentices and 70 graduates working with us. The apprentices find themselves in an advantageous position when compared to many of their peers - debt-free, with six or seven years work experience in the industry, plus the opportunity to study for a degree, or even a masters’ degree.
He continues: “Modern design and engineering is a fantastic career choice today, offering a wide range of jobs in an exciting, fast moving and rewarding sector, with a clean, high-tech working environment. We currently have vacancies for Technical Apprenticeships within the business and are keen to work with more schools and colleges to fill these. Any schools or colleges interested in finding out more, should get in touch with Contechs HR Manager - we’d love to hear from you.”
To see Peter talking about skills in Warwickshire, take a look at this short interview:
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council says: “We’re delighted to award the 100th Employability Charter to Contechs for its commitment to working with young people. Partnership projects between excellent companies like Contechs and our schools and colleges, are invaluable in helping more young people on the path to gaining the skills and expertise they need to succeed in the workplace, while at the same time, providing businesses with a pool of labour. Each year, 1,000 16-18 year olds leave Warwickshire schools and colleges looking for work. Warwickshire County Council’s ‘Skills for Employment’ programme links businesses to local schools and colleges and can help fund innovative projects to address skills shortages.”
The £2.4 million Skills for Employment programme has been so effective, a further £600,000 was recently committed by the County Council to fund business and education collaboration through to 2020.
Businesses and education providers interested in finding out more about Warwickshire County Council’s Employability Charter, or any other aspect of the Skills for Employment programme visit: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/skillsforemployment
Attached pic: Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council awards the Employability Charter to Peter Jarvis, Contechs MD, at Contechs’ premises in Warwick.
