TWO aspiring engineers have secured apprenticeships to obtain skills they hope will lead them to their ideal careers.

Ben Pope and George Peak are completing the level three NVQ extended diploma in advanced engineering at Cope Engineering (Radcliffe) Limited, a family-run company which was established in 1953 and is now managed by brothers John, Tony and Peter Cope.

The local business specialises in manufacturing rollers and cylinders, as well as undertaking engineering operations and general machining for a wide range of industries.

Ben, 19, and 20-year-old George are both gaining hands-on experience using industry standard equipment such as lathes, and are working on projects in which they are learning how to complete drilling, milling and fitting processes.

Having progressed from the engineering level three extended diploma at Bury College, the engineering duo chose to progress directly into an apprenticeship and develop the skills required to secure future employment.

Former Tottington High School pupil Ben, who lives in Tottington, said: “My apprenticeship is really good as I am always learning new skills and gaining knowledge of what it is like to work within the industry.”

Both Ben and George believe that they gained a range of skills during their time at Bury College studying their engineering diplomas which they have now applied to their apprenticeship jobs.

George, who lives in Harwood in Bolton and is a former Cannon Slade High School pupil, said: “Progressing from Bury College into an apprenticeship has been great. Aspects of our college course such as interpreting engineering drawings and knowledge of health and safety is now what I use in my apprenticeship job.”

With the growing demand for qualified engineers to fill roles within the industry, apprenticeships have been recognised as an ideal way of bridging the growing skills gap.

Director John Cope said: “We are driven down the apprenticeship route as there is a distinct lack of skilled engineers available.

By hiring apprentices we are able to help our short and long-term needs as well as putting something back into the industry.”

Our two apprentices are performing fantastically well and are, by far and away achieving more than what we expected. On the back of the success of Ben and George, we are now looking at taking on an additional apprentice.

For more about apprenticeships, visit www.burycollege.ac.uk/apprenticeships