Tiger Trailers have been running their Engineering Manufacturing apprenticeship programme for four years. This fourth year has seen the business take on 10 new apprentices while also celebrating with their original group, who have now completed the course.
Tiger Trailers opened their Winsford factory in 2014 and one of the first things put in place by the Joint Managing Directors, John and Steven Cartwright, was a well-structured apprenticeship programme. The scheme set up at Tiger Trailers looks to nurture talent in the industry as well as building a passionate and skilled workforce for the future of the industry. The company invest their resources into each of their Engineering Manufacturing apprentices and it is great that the first intake by the company have successfully completed the course.
The company originally offered a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacturing as part of a partnership with Mid-Cheshire College, which is now Warrington & Vale Royal College. However, this yearâs recruits will be undertaking a two-year Level 2 programme and removing the mainly classroom-based final year of the programme. It is thought that this change in approach has been made as a response to apprentice feedback, with the majority of apprentices at Tiger Trailers wanting a course that was less focused on classroom work and could be completed sooner. Tiger has however expressed that they will continue to support those apprentices that still choose to go on and complete their Level 3 if the qualification is thought to be necessary.
Each of the apprentices that complete this programme at Tiger Trailers learn the skills used in the industry on the shop floor and will work alongside a mentor for four months where they will cover each of the major manufacturing stages from body building and welding to auto-electrics and pre-delivery inspection. The course ensures that each apprentice has the knowledge that is required to build trailers and truck bodies.
