News & Resources

Nissan seeks its next 25 apprentices

11 Feb 2011

Nissan Sunderland Plant has opened 25 fresh apprenticeships, giving the engineers of tomorrow the chance to launch a career in the UK automotive industry. Announced to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, these 25 posts will take the number of apprentices taken on at the plant to 1,058 since it was established in 1984, with apprenticeships now firmly established as part of Nissan’s ongoing recruitment strategy.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan Vice President for Manufacturing in the UK, commented: “We are proud to support apprenticeships and would encourage other companies to do the same. Hiring apprentices is a tried and tested way of investing in the future of the company, at the same time as giving our staff the practical skills and academic qualifications they will need for a successful career.”

These 25 vacancies are for Trainee Maintenance Technicians, who will train to work in the team who maintain the production facilities at Nissan Sunderland Plant. Those accepted will start their on-the-job training this September. The five-year scheme combines theoretical and practical skills, giving successful applicants the chance to work towards nationally-recognised qualifications through on-the-job and academic training, while earning a competitive salary.

The first year of the scheme is spent completing off-the-job-training at the Gateshead College Skills Academy. The remaining four years are spent in the plant, working with the most up-to-date manufacturing equipment in the industry, with day release at college.

Nissan Sunderland Plant manufactured 423,262 units in 2010 which accounted for more than one in three of all passenger cars produced in the UK. Nissan Sunderland Plant has now been the UK’s biggest car producer in every year since 1998. Preparations are currently under way for the newly-crowned Car of the Year, the 100% electric Nissan LEAF, to be manufactured at the plant.

As well as receiving all the skills and knowledge they will require for their job, the new apprentices will study towards nationally-recognised qualifications developed with NA College and Gateshead College, including NVQ Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations; NVQ Level 3 Engineered Systems; Certificate in Engineering; Extended Diploma in Engineering and Foundation Degree in Maintenance Engineering.

Applicants must be aged 16 or over on September 1, 2011. The minimum academic qualifications are at least 4 GCSEs, including Grade A or B in Mathematics; Grade A-C in English; Grade A-C in a science-based subject and Grade A-C in at least one other subject. Equivalent qualifications will also be considered.

These apprenticeships are among the 75 announced last year that Nissan intends to create at Sunderland from 2010-2015.

Anybody interested in the scheme should call the Nissan Training Section on 0191 418 4219 for further information.

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