Matching local talent with top employers

One of the recent company open events.

WITH applications at a record high, the recent company open events held by HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association) have been the busiest yet for the training provider. Over 250 candidates attended looking to impress top employers from across the region to kick start their engineering careers.

Held at the Forest Pines Hotel near Scunthorpe and the Country Park Inn at Hessle, near Hull, the events are a crucial step in the recruitment process. They aim to provide the perfect forum for HETA applicants to have initial conversations with companies, gather more information and apply for placements.

“The company open events are fantastic and vibrant occasions,” says HETA’s Chief Executive Iain Elliott. “It is great to see well-regarded companies come together with HETA applicants. For us, it really brings into focus our commitment to training, developing, and, most importantly, retaining a high calibre of talented professionals within the Humber region.”

Equally, the events give employers the opportunity to meet the incoming cohort who have already successfully completed HETA’s rigorous application and selection process. Through this, the 50 companies attending the events are confident that they are securing some of the most capable and committed individuals available locally.

Present at the events was Maria Shepherd, HR Assistant at leading UK heating manufacturer Ideal Boilers .part of Groupe Atlantic UK: “It’s great to engage with such a vast number of enthusiastic young people. Our confidence in HETA’s recruitment process provides us with the assurance that the candidates we meet have the skills and aptitude to successfully develop their careers within the field of engineering.”

With recent national changes to apprenticeships, HETA is working in close cooperation with the 300 plus businesses that it partners with. This collaboration ensures companies are fully utilising the new levy system and reaping the benefits of providing on-the-job training.

Apprenticeship programmes at HETA are increasingly being devised to meet employer and industry-specific needs, which in turn is delivering high employability rates for candidates. This approach is paying dividends, with HETA enjoying rapidly rising application numbers across all three sites in Hull, Scunthorpe and Stallingborough.

“We have seen significant growth in applications this year, as well as a rise in demand from organisations for apprentices,” adds Iain. “The quality of applicants has improved, we are seeing some very bright and talented young people applying to HETA. Both learners and businesses are beginning to fully understand the opportunities, with increasing numbers choosing the apprenticeship route to fulfil their career or business development ambitions.”