TAS extends apprenticeship training for plastics and rubber

Cogent’s Technical Apprenticeship Service (TAS) has launched a facility for plastics and rubber companies that will make it possible for them to run apprenticeship schemes despite being “on the geographical fringes of existing training provision”.

According to TAS, its objective is “to remove the barriers to apprenticeship recruitment”. In the plastics and rubber industries Cogent research has shown the problem is likely to be a geographical barrier, with training providers tending to be concentrated in key strategic areas of the country.

For companies located outside of these areas it has often been a challenge to get the skills support they require.

Now companies who want run apprenticeships will now have access to a qualified and industry experienced ‘polymer assessor’ from TAS via their local engineering college. This would allow apprentices to be trained and assessed on the shop-floor, without the need for lengthy travel to a training provider.  

John McFarlane, TAS business development and training manager, said: “The appetite for apprenticeship training is on the rise, indeed the number of apprentices undertaking the Polymer Processing Operations framework doubled in 2010/2011 from the previous academic year.

“We hope that this new development from TAS will open up apprenticeship recruitment and training opportunities to a greater number of polymer employers.”

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