Mitie welcomes next generation of engineering talent

• Mitie has kicked off its engineering apprenticeship programme for 2024 with 80 new recruits eager to kickstart their careers
• Each apprentice will focus on a specific aspect of engineering – from electrical and heating and ventilation to refrigeration and building services – at sites located across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• This year marks the highest intake of engineering apprentices for Mitie to date, and underscores its commitment to grow and build its workforce with the skills needed for the future

Mitie, the UK’s leading facilities transformation company, recently ranked at number 52 in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, has enrolled 80 new trainee engineers onto its award-winning apprenticeship programme. Marking the highest intake of engineering apprentices since the scheme’s inception in 2021, this is part of Mitie’s commitment to develop and grow the next generation of engineers against a national backdrop of declining engineering skills.

The apprentices will be trained in engineering specialisms, from electrical, heating and ventilation, through to refrigeration, building services, property maintenance and project management, on courses that last between 18 months and four years. The apprenticeships have been designed to offer the experience needed to plug future skills gaps, including those needed for the green energy transition, such as learning to install and maintain heat pumps.

Comprising a blend of on-the-job training with an average of one day per week of classroom-based learning delivered through a network of high-quality colleges and training providers, the apprenticeships will be hands-on from the start and based at Mitie estates and client sites across the UK.

Each apprenticeship is independently accredited by a nationally recognised awarding organisation, such as City & Guilds. On completion of the course, the apprentices will be awarded an industry recognised qualification in their chosen pathway and, where possible, allow them to move into permanent engineering roles.

Apprenticeships are a cornerstone of colleague development at Mitie, where there are over 1,300 apprentices working across the business at any one time. Mitie has invested £15.2m in apprenticeship training since 2017 and has built learning and development into its infrastructure. It is also a member of the 5% Club – a group of organisations dedicated to achieving 5% of their workforce in earn and learn positions at any one time.

Jasmine Hudson, Chief People Officer, Mitie, said:

“It’s testament to the success of the apprenticeship programme, and a reflection of our renewed status as a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer for the third year running – now at number 52, that we’ve been able to bring in our biggest cohort of engineering apprentices to date. Building the next generation of engineering talent is critical to the success of our business. Over half of the UK’s engineers are aged over 45, so we are actively futureproofing the industry as well as preparing our workforce for a greener future, while equipping these school and college leavers with skills that will set them up with a career for life.”