The Most - Issue 1

Leyland Trucks has been named ‘Apprentice Employer of the Year’ at the South Ribble Community Awards, just days after receiving the ‘Exceptional Employer’ award from Preston’s College. Both accolades recognise and celebrate Leyland Trucks’ ongoing commitment to apprenticeships and investing in future local talent, with the advanced truck manufacturer having a long and proud history of apprentice training. The company actively recruits and develops a pipeline of up-and-coming talent by delivering one of the strongest apprenticeship programmes in Lancashire, which spans both factory and office-based roles and mirrors the needs of current and future skills demands. The awards coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, which for 2020 is encouraging young people to ‘Look Beyond’ traditional hiring routes and explore the diversity of career options that apprenticeships can bring. Based in Leyland, Lancashire, Leyland Trucks is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and assembles the full range of DAF commercial vehicles, including the DAF LF, DAF XF and DAF CF truck models at its advanced production plant. Leyland Trucks currently has c.70 apprentices – 67 of which attend Preston’s College – working throughout its fabrication, welding, engineering and business departments, together with a growing number of ex-apprentices within its 1,000+ strong workforce who continue to progress through it’s ranks. Dean Johnson, Commodity Manager and a former electrical engineering apprentice at Leyland Trucks, says: “What’s different here is that Leyland Trucks allows you to sample so many areas of the business to gain that deeper understanding of what we do, whilst developing a broader skillset in the process. “My story was a little different to the normal apprentice route in that I already had a degree. What I had been taught during my degree was very theory-based and my apprenticeship showed exactly how this theory worked in practice by giving me those on-site, hands-on skills. “I thought I was too old to be an apprentice, but there are no barriers to success here. Leyland Trucks made it clear from day one that they would support me every step of the way if I was willing to push myself, and being able to climb through the ranks since qualifying is testament to that.” As a prominent employer in Lancashire, Leyland Trucks has an enviable reputation for staff retention and a track record of nurturing talent, developing its people and promoting from within. Part of the global Fortune 500 company PACCAR, the company is one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in the world and operates from one of Europe’s most advanced truck assembly facilities in the heart of South Ribble. James Jepson, HR and training manager at Leyland Trucks, says: “Both these awards mean a great deal by recognising our ongoing efforts in developing and retaining talent not just during their apprenticeship, but throughout their entire career with us. “Preston’s College as our apprentice partner is hugely receptive to our needs. As technology changes, so do the trucks we manufacture, with the college able to build new courses and adapt the curriculum to mirror the future direction of our business and ensure that we deliver work-ready talent. “We also work with the college to create real-life student projects that benefit not just our apprentices, but their wider engineering intake. These students could one day be part of our future supply chain, so ensuring that we maintain a true partnership benefits not just our workforce, but other future engineers.” Mark Knight, head of school for Science, Engineering & Automotive Technologies at Preston’s College, adds: “Leyland Trucks demonstrates the vision and planning needed to drive the regional economy forward and is at the forefront of investing in local people. The company continues to provide various pathways to future engineers of all ages via apprenticeships, work experience, degrees and employment opportunities. “Our partnership with Leyland Trucks has continued to develop over the years and this award recognises their status as an exceptional local employer. It’s our mission to make our learners the most employable that they can be and engaging with Lancashire employers sits at the very heart of this. Understanding what employers want and need is critical to developing work-ready talent and we value Leyland Trucks’ partnership approach in ensuring that what Preston’s College offers is fit-for-purpose.” LEYLAND TRUCKS RECOGNISED AS A TOP APPRENTICE EMPLOYER 22