Rolls-Royce continues culling talent with record apprenticeship slots

British automaker Rolls-Royce is celebrating a decade of its Apprenticeship Program by seeking a record number of young candidates for the coming year.

For 2016, Rolls-Royce has announced that it will seek 17 candidates, the highest number of apprentices accepted since the program began in 2006. The Apprenticeship Program provides individuals aged 16-24 with the opportunity to train at Rolls-Royce’s manufacturer to learn in-demand skills and helps the automaker cull potential employees.

Schools in session
Based at Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood manufacturer in Britain, the program lasts for up to four years. During the course of the apprenticeship, students will combine on-the-job training with classroom-based study, designed in conjunction with colleges in the area.

Those selected for the program will begin in August 2016 and will work alongside Rolls-Royce’s skilled craftsman in leather, wood, paint, engineering and assembly roles. More than 100 people have joined the program since 2006, with half remaining active in their apprenticeship roles at Rolls-Royce’s plants in Goodwood and West Sussex while the other half are full-time employees.

Rolls-Royce also employs more than 50 university students and runs a graduate program that adds new positions each year.

An apprentice at Rolls-Royce

In a statement, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royrce said, "I am delighted to announce the 10th anniversary of our Apprenticeship Program, which represents a significant milestone in the history of our company. We are committed to developing future talent at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and I am especially placed that we will welcome a record number of new apprentices to the business in 2016."

The success of the Apprenticeship Program has been shown in the rising number of entries each year.

Last year, Rolls- Royce opening up its apprentice program to a record number of young individuals for 2015.

Sixteen candidates between the ages of 16 and 24 will train at with the brand for up to four years, both at its facilities and in a classroom setting. Expanding this program both provides educational outreach and helps to train future potential employees (see story).