NG Bailey boosts apprentice training capability

The training academy at NG Bailey in Leeds has been opened by Alun Michael, Minister of State for Industry & the Regions. It boosts Bailey’s training capacity to 400 apprentices. Alun Bailey said, ‘It is vital that businesses make a significant investment in training for the benefit of both themselves and the industry as a whole. A skilled and competent workforce is the key to business competitiveness. ‘NG Bailey’s investment in training is an example to the industry, and I am pleased to open a new training wing that will equip the apprentices of the future with the professional skills they need — an issue which is very important to Government.’ The new training wing houses a new welding facility and enables NG Bailey to provide more mechanical training for its apprentices — satisfying the need for high-quality skills. The company can now provide this vital training in-house. This mechanical training wing represents a £400 000 investment and increases capacity to 23 000 training days a year. Mark Andrews, chief executive of NG Bailey, said, ‘We have run a successful apprentice-training programme over the last 50 years. Training and development are very important to us; they are a fundamental part of the business strategy, which is why we have invested so heavily in ensuring our apprentice-training programme is the best in the industry.’