Finning UK & Ireland has stepped up its efforts to form a more diverse workplace with its latest recruitment drive.

The engineering specialist is searching for a varied selection of candidates to join its award-winning apprentice programme, supporting the recruitment of women, as well as candidates with disabilities, people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those from socially deprived areas.

The business' commitment to creating a team which better represents the demographics of society was recognised in October 2021 when it was certified with the Disability Confidence accreditation. It also has an Inclusion and Diversity Council chaired by Iain Carpenter, Service Director, who was once an apprentice at the company, and an Allies for Inclusion programme which aims to raise awareness and understanding among employees.

A range of exciting opportunities for apprenticeships are available within the Electrical Power Generation and Service departments at its Cannock, Cardiff, Bristol, Leeds, Dublin, Chesterfield, Glasgow, Peterborough, Poole, Slough, and Winsford sites.

On successful completion of the programme, the apprentices will achieve nationally recognised qualifications and graduate as Cat® Certified Engineers.

Speaking about her experiences, Shannon Weiss, 26, who started a four-year apprenticeship in land-based servicing at the company's Chesterfield site last September, commented: "My partner completed an apprenticeship with Finning in 2021 and highly recommended the training programme to me. I've always been fascinated by mechanics and don't mind getting my hands dirty, so this role was perfect. It is hard work, very messy and not at all glamorous but you get an amazing sense of satisfaction when you have fixed an excavator and it is back on site doing what it was designed to do.

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"Traditionally, engineering is not a career that has tended to attract females who are often put off following their dreams by the thought of working in a male dominated environment. I would really like to encourage women who are passionate about engineering to apply for the apprenticeship programme.

"The opportunities and experiences I have had already have been incredible. There is a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination across the business and everyone has made me feel welcome and part of the team. It is a world-class company, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business."

Finning UK & Ireland is taking a range of positive steps to help improve upon the latest figures released by the Women's Engineering Society which revealed that just 14.5% of engineers globally are female, and statistics unveiled by the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) which show that only 9% of UK-based engineers are from the BAME community.

Learning & Organisational Development Manager Marsha Myles added: "As a leading global company we understand the benefits that colleagues from different backgrounds and with varying experiences can bring to the business. Sadly, and to the detriment of the industry, many groups of people have long been underrepresented within engineering and we are determined to play our part in helping to remedy the situation.

"Our award-winning apprenticeship programme offers amazing opportunities for people to gain qualifications, skills and a life-long career within a forward-thinking, dynamic, and professional organisation, whether they have just left school or college or are looking for a new challenge. No day is the same for our engineers, they could be working with anything from earthmoving machines to marine engines and electric power generators, the possibilities are endless."

The closing date for applications for the apprenticeship programme is 25 February.