Employers are being invited to contribute to a proposed training programme which will draw on industry perspective to shape a new generation of materials scientists.
The Applied Materials Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Company (AMRICC) is seeking interested partners to form an employer group, which will help influence the content of a materials science degree apprenticeship.
Featuring a unique blend of commercial acumen and technical ability, the training fits in with government moves to give employers the lead role in designing new apprenticeships, with individual industries encouraged to design standards for specific roles.
AMRICC, based in North Staffordshire, has been developed to provide an international facility to fast-track advanced materials and materials processes into commercial products.
Officially launched in October last year, the £30 million facility is forging links with partners in education and industry to develop materials scientists and engineers for the future and create a stream of talent to produce solutions for the 21st Century and beyond.
Dr Cathryn Hickey, the chief executive of AMRICC, said: “Having discussed the development of a degree apprenticeship in materials with several companies, we are now in a position to progress, and are seeking to identify interested companies.
“The work of the employer group will be the cornerstone of this process as it will determine the exact content of this qualification and address how it meets the needs of industry.
“We envisage the programme is likely to be modular and cover different types of materials, their properties, engineering issues and the range of different sector uses, with a blend of technical and commercial content.
“We would urge manufacturers and those offering employment in materials science to consider playing a part in the process and help shape the skillset of the future workforce.”
AMRICC is holding an introductory meeting for those interested in the initiative on Monday 27 March 2017.
The meeting will be held from 10am until 12 noon at the offices of AMRICC in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent.
For further details, Dr Cathryn Hickey can be contacted at 01782 764333 or cathryn.hickey@amricc.com
March 2017