Siemens generates its engineers of the future : Apprenticeship scheme meets skill needs at a rural location

Purpose – Describes an award‐winning engineering‐apprenticeship program at Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd, Lincoln, UK. Design/methodology/approach – Outlines the reasons for the program, the form it takes and the advantages it has brought. Findings – Reveals that 98 percent of the apprentices are employed on completion of the training, the retention and completion level is 85 percent, and 44 percent of the skilled production staff have completed an apprenticeship via the company program. Practical implications – Highlights the fact that other Siemens UK businesses have taken notice of the Lincoln model and are using it themselves. Social implications – Reveals that, due to the rural location of the business, it has found it difficult to recruit skilled staff from other companies, meaning that its apprenticeship scheme is an irreplaceable method for renewing its talent pool. Originality/value – Reveals how the apprenticeship scheme is helping Siemens to meet its skill needs into the future, in an industry where long business cycles mean that companies have a business plan looking up to 20 years ahead.