Siemens, a leading digital technology company, is ensuring young and aspiring engineers and business students get a head start in their careers, after a major recruitment drive in the UK. Since Siemens has taken on 84 new graduates, apprentices, and interns, bolstering its existing 8,600 strong workforce spread across the UK.

Half of the new hires are female, underlining Siemens’ commitment to its target of 50/50 gender parity in Early Careers recruitment by 2025 as part of its drive to build an innovative and diverse culture.

The company, a committed employer of entry-level talent in the UK with 483 apprentices, graduates, and interns, is halfway through a focussed recruitment campaign which started in August and runs to April 2023.

The recruiting process has been conducted through webinars and events including the recently concluded Sir Williams Siemens Challenge, which was held at Birmingham University on November 18th. During the pandemic this was replaced with a virtual event called SustainaCity.

So far, the campaign has attracted almost 7,700 applications for positions in various Siemens divisions.

Of the 84 so far recruited, Siemens Digital Industries has taken on 32 new interns, graduates and apprentices beginning their career in manufacturing.

Orla Davin, 22, a former pupil of the Barlow RC High and Xaverian College in Manchester, is embarking on Sales Engineer Degree. “I was looking at different apprenticeships, as I prefer a hands-on way of learning, so four days in the office and one at university highly appealed to me, she said.

“When I saw this role, not only did it give me an opportunity to work in one of the most globally successful companies, but the apprenticeship scheme also gives you experience in each department in Digital Industries over the four years, so you can decide where you want to work and what you enjoy best!”

Isabella Harrison, 18, was encouraged to pursue engineering by her school, Fallibroome Academy in Macclesfield, and has started a degree apprenticeship in electrical engineering.

“My electronics teacher challenged me and helped me realise my potential. I hope that my mentors at Siemens do the same. What I love about Siemens is its push for innovation. I really want to continue to that.”

Ben Ward, 18, a former student at Macclesfield Academy credited his family for his pursuit of an engineering degree.

He said: “Siemens is at the forefront of technological advancements and are present in so many industries and have such a diverse portfolio. I felt like there would be an immense number of opportunities available upon entering the business to be able to work myself up to some sort of managerial role later in my career.”

The service industry provides the highest number of jobs in the UK followed by the manufacturing sector which employed 7% of the UK’s workforce in 2022.

Brian Holliday, Managing Director, Siemens Digital Industries UK and Ireland said: “The Manufacturing sector in the UK is vibrant and varied. It offers great careers in a range of technical and operational roles and now employs 2.7 million people, putting it ahead of the construction, transport, and public sectors. Manufacturing has shown its metal through the pandemic, becoming even more resilient whilst developing new skills and approaches that will help it survive and thrive.

“Investing in new talent and new ways of working is now core to its future success. At Siemens we have used the successful Sir William Siemens Challenge to create an applied learning environment for undergraduates and to recruit the right talent. We’ve built on that approach with our apprentices and graduates going on to achieve remarkable things through similar hackathons to ensure the success of the Ventilator Challenge UK and helping Riversimple design the world’s most sustainable factory for their Rasa Hydrogen Car.”

The recruitment programme is run by a team of specialists in talent acquisition in conjunction with the Siemens Training Solutions team.

Onboarding of the early recruits is underway and will continue until the end of the programme in April.

Johnny Mathieson, Early Career Professionals – Manager at Siemens said: “The Siemens apprenticeships have gained in popularity with the introduction of T Level. Opening the apprenticeships to many more students who want to pursue a career in the engineering industry.

“The early career recruits come with so much energy and willingness to learn new skills. We make the whole on-boarding process exciting and interesting for them so that they know they are in the right place and it’s a win-win for both.”

The 32 Siemens Digital Industries early careers intake consists of 3 graduates, 6 interns, 9 E3 Academy, 6 apprentices and 8-degree apprentices.