MTC Training reaches finals of prestigious AAC Apprenticeship Awards

Coventry-based training provider MTC Training is one of two national finalists competing to be named Engineering and Manufacturing Training Provider of the Year in the FE Week and AELP AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2023.

The specialist training provider fought off stiff competition to reach the final shortlist after the sixth annual awards received a record breaking 375 entries.

The accolade recognises MTC Training as a UK leader in high-quality manufacturing and engineering skills delivery, and a provider that goes above and beyond for its apprentices, advocates for developing apprenticeships in the sector, and embraces widening participation.

MTC Training began delivering innovative apprenticeship programmes, including an ambitious calendar of enrichment activities, from its flagship state-of-the-art training centre on the MTC campus in Coventry in 2014.

The business is creating the next generation of engineering innovators, helping to fill the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills gap and secure a sustainable future for the UK manufacturing sector.

MTC Training has since upskilled more than 800 apprentices, expanding operations to include Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) in Abingdon in 2019.

MTC Training also focuses on equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives to increase awareness and access to STEM careers and training, as well as supporting the continuous development of apprenticeship standards through its work with the Institute for Apprenticeships, Training and Education’s Trailblazer groups and the Department for Education.

David Grailey, MTC Training’s managing director who began his own career as an apprentice, said, “I am thrilled that MTC Training’s dedication to excellence has been recognised on a national and well-respected stage, and I very much hope that we can top the shortlist on the night.

“This achievement would not be possible without the expertise and commitment of our fantastically passionate teams. They continuously live our values to make MTC Training an organisation that apprentices, employers and training colleagues alike aspire to work with, and I’m very proud of them. This is fantastic start to 2023 and, I’m sure, a sign of more good things to come.”

Announcing the finalists in FE Week, Shane Mann, managing director of FE Week’s publisher, Lsect, and chair of the awards judging panel, said, “I know I speak for all AAC awards judges when I say how impressed we were with the standard of nominations this year.

“The quality of nominations gets stronger every year, which makes our job as judges tougher and tougher. Each of this year’s finalists has a powerful story to tell about how putting excellence and innovation at the heart of their provision, with staff at every level working hard to give apprentices the best experience possible.

“We know it has been another tough year in apprenticeships, so I can’t wait to bring the entire sector together at the AAC in March to celebrate the success of our finalists.”

The winners of the 19 award categories will be announced at the AAC Apprenticeship Awards Gala Dinner on March 14 at the ICC in Birmingham, hosted by FE Week and AELP and delivered in partnership with City and Guilds.