Kyocera Document Solutions has recruited its first two apprentices to its Pearson in Practice programme for Advanced Apprenticeships for Print and Document Solutions.
Kyocera Document Solutions chose nineteen-year-olds Jordan Church and Thomas Parsley,who started their inductions with the company last week.
Kyocera's apprenticeship programme runs for 12 months and combines on-the-job training with classroom learning at a Pearson in Practice training centre.
The apprentices are aiming to achieve the qualifications:CompTIA PDI+,CompTIA A+and Advanced Apprenticeship for IT,Software,Web and Telecoms Professionals.
Ian Allan,training manager at Kyocera Document Solutions,explained that he worked with CompTIA,Pearson in Practice and other print solution vendors to create an industry standard.
"Every manufacturer has had the opportunity to input what the apprentices should have to cover and we now have an apprenticeship,designed by the industry for the industry,which will deliver a young,enthusiastic and qualified workforce,"said Allen.
Parsley said he is looking forward to getting some hands-on experience:"We've already watched a technician preparing a machine for installation and we're going to get the opportunity to try it for ourselves tomorrow.
"Learning the theory is great but you learn so much quicker by having a go.We can't wait to have a go at actually fixing something–it will be great to be a service engineer–self-sufficient and able to get things fixed."
On his apprenticeship Church said:"I feel I've definitely made the right decision as I have the chance to break into the industry–something that is difficult to do without experience."
Sandra Rogers,human resources manager at Kyocera Document Solutions,said the company found it hard to recruit the right people with the right skills set and a genuine desire to develop and grow the business.
Rogers added:"Jordan and Thomas have the option to become field service engineers,to work on our technical help desk or in our workshops–we are flexible enough to accommodate the career path they want to follow."
