The Rolls-Royce Apprentice
Sir Alan Sugar recently met the future workforce of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars during a visit to the Goodwood factory. Sir Alan took a tour of the West Sussex facility and took the opportunity to chat with apprentices from the wood, leather, assembly and paint departments. The star of the Apprentice TV show is endorsing Gordon Brown’s new policy to boost the skills of the nation, with a goal of one in five young people gaining an apprenticeship within the next ten years.
Sir Alan said “I was blown away with the investment Rolls-Royce has made in the apprentice scheme at this leading-edge factory. The level of craftsmanship needed to produce one of their high quality cars is incredible. The apprentices are being taught skills that I thought were a thing of the past, it is very encouraging and impressive to see it in action. There’s a real sense that a future British workforce is being trained in an excellent way”.
Several hundred new jobs will be created with the launch of a new model series, codenamed RR4, in 2010. Current staff numbers stand at around 700, having increased by around 100 with the launch of the Phantom Drophead Coupé in 2007.
Details of the Rolls-Royce apprenticeship programme, graduate scheme and current vacancies, are available from www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com.