ABB passes out its two newest robotics apprentices

George Matthews and Daniel Taylor received their certificates after each completing a four-year HNC course, which included a three-year placement with ABB working on its robot products and systems. As fully-qualified apprentices, both Matthews and Taylor have now taken up full-time positions with ABB.

“Companies such as ABB that are investing in apprentices are not only investing in their own future, but also that of the UK,” said Trevor Gregory, group managing director for ABB UK and regional manager North Europe.

“There is no reason why the UK cannot build on its reputation and carve itself a place as a world-leading high-tech manufacturing economy. However, this is only going to be possible if we do everything we can to prepare young people with the skills and knowledge they need to become the engineers of tomorrow.”

Matthews and Taylor are just two of 54 apprentices being trained by ABB across its various businesses in the UK.

“ABB has tripled the size of its apprenticeship programme in the last three years,” explained Gregory. “We have schemes running across our UK business portfolio, giving young engineers experience in everything from robotics through to power electronics.”

In addition to its apprentice training scheme, ABB Robotics also supports further educational establishments throughout the UK, supplying its robots and programming software for use in engineering courses at various colleges and universities.

"Automation has already proved its value in some of the big manufacturing success stories in the UK, particularly in the burgeoning automotive sector,” says Nigel Platt, sales and marketing manager for ABB’s UK robotics business. “By supplying our equipment for use in educational establishments throughout the UK, we are hoping that the benefits that robots can bring will be more widely embraced, particularly among smaller companies, which is where the real potential lies.”