After being out of work for seven months, Charlotte Porter has been employed as an apprentice by construction and mining equipment maker, Caterpillar and is now paving the way for other females interested in logistics and manufacturing to also join the organisation.

The 18-year-old is one of 600 16-19-year-olds currently being recruited by Birmingham Metropolitan College to work at Caterpillar’s plant in Desford, Leicestershire where she will help to meet the production demand for their backhoe loader product line.

“I’m really pleased to be starting my career at Caterpillar,” Charlotte commented: “For a long time I was applying for lots of different jobs without being totally sure what sort of industry I wanted to work in.

“My dad who also works here encouraged me to apply for an apprenticeship because of the great training opportunities available.

“At the moment I’m one of two females that have been taken on as apprentices, but that won’t be for long. Some of my friends have been really interested in my job and are now considering applying for positions as well.”

Charlotte and her colleagues are receiving their training in the on-site Caterpillar Skills Development Academy where they will work towards achieving an NVQ in Logistics/Engineering and a Technical Certificate, as well as gaining key/functional skills and literacy and numeracy support if required.

“So far we’ve covered health and safety procedures and I’ve received some assembly and logistics operations training, such as being shown how to use a crane. I’m keen to work in the assembly line and can’t wait to ‘go live’ on the shop floor on my own.”

Charlotte has been recruited on a one-year fixed term contract to complete her apprenticeship qualification and will then have the opportunity to apply for permanent contracts at the Caterpillar plant afterwards.

Extra workers are required by Caterpillar after the consolidation of both side-shift and centre-pivot backhoe loader production in Desford last year, as well as increasing demand.

Andrew Clarke was one of the first apprentices to be recruited by the Desford Plant. The 18-year-old already knew people who worked for Caterpillar so was aware of the job role he would be pursuing.

“I’d completed a uniformed services course, but because the waiting list for positions in this industry is quite long at the moment, I decided to try a different career route,” the former restaurant employee explained. “I want to be in a workplace where I can develop skills and gain qualifications, so being here is ideal.”

Fellow-apprentice, Graham Davies, 18 is also pleased to have gained a position with excellent employment prospects. “I’d been working as a labourer and self-employed bricklayer, which is quite an unreliable profession, so working for Caterpillar is a major step forward for me,” he said. “I’m hoping to go as far as possible at the organisation and to learn as much as I can about engineering and logistics.”

Principal and Chief Executive of Birmingham Metropolitan College, Dr Christine Braddock stated: “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Caterpillar Inc on this major initiative that will impact so significantly on the future of the manufacturing industry.

“Creating work opportunities for young people, boosting skills levels for employees and supporting new technologies are precisely what the college is committed to delivering with employers in order for us to create multi-skilled workforces that can contribute effectively to the economy. With the urgent need for more skilled labour, we are proud to introduce a programme that will have a real impact in Desford and Caterpillar,” added Robert Droogleever, General Manager of the Caterpillar facility in Desford.

“Through our partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College, we will be able to identify students early who are interested in developing a skill and help them reach their goals and in-turn combat the issue of youth unemployment.”

* For further information about apprenticeship programmes available at Birmingham Metropolitan College, telephone 0121 362 1125 or email training@bmetc.ac.uk