Newcastle-based British Engines Group has launched its 2025 apprenticeship programme, offering career opportunities for aspiring engineers across the North East. With a rich history of apprenticeship employment, the group is expanding its intake to meet growing demand for skilled talent in the manufacturing sector.
The programme will offer 35 apprenticeship positions, marking a 59% increase from the previous year. These opportunities span a variety of engineering and business disciplines across the group’s eight companies, including Michell Bearings in South Shields, BEL Engineering in Newcastle, and CMP Products in Cramlington. Approximately 10% of factory staff at British Engines are currently apprentices, and the company has provided over 1,000 apprenticeship opportunities since its inception in 1966.
Richard Dodd, CEO of British Engines Group, emphasized the significance of this expansion, stating, “We take great pride in being a leading apprenticeship employer. This recruitment drive is crucial for our long-term growth and demonstrates our commitment to the future of engineering in the region. Apprenticeships are vital in addressing the North East’s skills gap, particularly in STEM fields, and offer significant opportunities for social inclusion and diversity.”
Dodd highlighted the company’s dedication to fostering homegrown talent, explaining that many former apprentices have advanced to senior roles within the company. “Apprenticeships provide a clear career pathway, and we encourage young people across the region to consider this route to success,” he added.
One such success story is Kacper Konarski, a Gateshead native who joined BEL Engineering as a machining apprentice in 2022. Since then, Konarski has won two prestigious awards for his achievements. He praised the apprenticeship for offering him “hands-on experience, skills, and the opportunity to work on innovative projects,” and encouraged other young people to consider an apprenticeship as the ideal way to begin a career in engineering.
Applications for the 2025 apprenticeship programme are now open, with British Engines Group continuing its commitment to shaping the future of engineering in the North East.