Quest Magazine

Independent resettlement & recruitment guide for Armed Forces & Veterans

Spark a brighter future with free Electronics Skills Programme

Spark a brighter future with free Electronics Skills Programme

NEWS

08 Dec, 2020

Tech Lancaster has launched the free training scheme to fast-track Greater Manchester and Lancashire residents into new careers in electronics and technology …

Technically minded Greater Manchester and Lancashire residents are being invited to spark a brighter future by applying for Tech Lancaster’s new, free-to-access Electronics Skills Programme, which combines distance learning with lab-based tuition, assisting them into new employment opportunities in the local electronics industry, an important part of the national digital and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The intensive 12-week course will provide participants with globally recognised, electronics industry certifications, work-ready skills and the confidence needed to secure a career in the fast-paced north-west technology sector. Participants who complete the course are guaranteed the opportunity to attend a real-life job interview with one of a number of local employers.

Says Nicola Mortimer, a founding member of Tech Lancaster: ‘We want to nurture the technology workforce of tomorrow, creating inclusive opportunities for groups of people who may not currently have access to this career path. Applications are being prioritised from ex-military personnel, tech graduates looking for work, those looking to re-skill due to redundancy, and underemployed groups in the sector, such as members of the BAME community and women.

‘Our mission is to build Lancashire’s reputation as a centre of excellence for electronics design and manufacture, drawing on its proud industrial heritage and producing a flow of talent going into well-paid, skilled jobs. At a time when employers are cutting huge numbers of jobs as the coronavirus crisis continues, this is fantastic news.’

Lancaster City Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Sustainable Economic Prosperity adds: ‘It is great to see our local industry, colleges and community come together to address the need to improve skills and employment in critical industry areas such as electronics across the district. Tech Lancaster has shown that it is possible to solve skill shortages collaboratively and we are very proud that it has secured such a large amount of funding to help create and protect jobs in Lancaster and further afield at such a difficult time.’

What knowledge do I need?

Don’t worry if your technical skills aren’t very advanced. All that is required is a practical can-do attitude and the willingness to learn. This course will teach you all you need to know to begin your career in electronics!

What does the course entail?

The course is mostly delivered online, with practical sessions to learn skills such as how to work with circuit boards, due to run in late February or March 2021.

When does it start and how do I sign up?

Tech Lancaster’s Electronics Skills Programme is due to start in January 2021 and is enrolling right now. The programme is open to all ages and requires no pre-existing experience for entry-level roles. You must also be resident in Lancashire or Greater Manchester to participate. To enrol and fast-track your career in the electronics or technology sectors, please visit www.tech-lancaster.org.uk or call 01524 881554.

What happens afterwards?

On completion of the course, participants will be looking at job roles such as electronics production operatives, electronics technicians and electronics design engineers. As you advance, you might become involved in, for example, more complicated cable assemblies, eventually moving into more specialised technician roles.

All those who complete the programme are guaranteed a real-world job interview.

Find out more

Visit www.tech-lancaster.org.uk, email enrol@tech-lancaster.org.uk or call 01524 881554

 

About Tech Lancaster

Tech Lancaster was formed by a consortium of Lancaster-based electronics companies: Forsberg Services, Like Technologies, Milliamp Technologies, Northern Hi-Tec, OTAQ Group and Rinicom. It beat off stiff competition to secure funding from the UK Government’s £3 million Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund and is working in conjunction with Lancaster and Morecambe College to deliver the programme.

About the Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund

The Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund is supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership, to address the digital skills gaps across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. It was set up to address locally identified digital skills gaps and is the first of its kind in the UK.

 

Main picture, top: Tech Lancaster consortium representatives at the Ashton Memorial in Lancaster