Lord Young Visits London Taxi Manufacturer LTI Vehicles

COVENTRY, United Kingdom – February 13, 2009: Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, Lord Tony Young, visited LTI Vehicles on Wednesday 11 February. The Minister met some of the staff who have benefited from Government funded apprenticeships and Train to Gain.

Lord Young was met by John Russell, CEO of LTI’s parent company, Manganese Bronze Holdings, and the company’s Managing Director, Peter Shillcock, before he took a tour of the plant. The Minister was also met by Sophia Lock, who in 2008 won the EEF (West Midlands) Final Year, Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award and Training & Development Officer, Adam Wright.

Lord Young spent time talking to staff at the Coventry based company, who participated in apprenticeship schemes.

Department Innovation, Universities and Skills Minister, Lord Young, was shown around the plant by Dave Lancaster who completed his 4 year advanced apprenticeship in 2008 and Simmeon Joseph who is in his final year of an advanced apprenticeship.

Lord Young said “It has been great to meet some of LTI Vehicles’ apprentices today and to hear first-hand about their experiences. We want more people to do an apprenticeship. They offer a fantastic start to a career with the added benefit of earning while you learn.

“We want to see many more employers following LTI Vehicles’ example by offering apprenticeships. They provide businesses with the highly skilled people they need to help them when the upturn comes.

“That’s why we’re providing over £1bn of investment for apprenticeships next year, so that many more people and companies can benefit from the opportunities apprenticeships offer.”

Managing Director of LTI Vehicles, Peter Shillcock, said “We are delighted that Lord Young visited us today.

“Lord Young has a clear passion for vocational training and spent time finding out how current and former apprentices had benefited from Train to Gain. He also explained the Government’s commitment to skills training and his personal commitment to develop more opportunities for apprentices.

“The Government’s Train to Gain programme and apprenticeship schemes have provided our staff with valuable skills in the work place.”

The Minister also visited Warwickshire College’s Trident Technology and Business Centre and met with local employers and students.