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Newport launches four-year apprenticeships
Our Newport elastomers plant has launched a maintenance engineering apprenticeship scheme for the first time in its history. Response to the new initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, with more than 275 young people applying for the two roles.
ExxonMobil is committed to apprenticeships as part of its continued investment to attract bright, ambitious young people into the business. The new scheme provides an opportunity for the successful applicants to gain valuable work experience and a qualification whilst in paid employment.
Will Becker, maintenance manager at ExxonMobil Newport is spearheading the scheme, which was promoted through Careers Wales. He believes it is an incredible opportunity to start a career at one of Europe’s premier thermoplastic plants, which provides raw materials to the global automotive industry. Will says: “Apprenticeships at Newport are really important to us as we look for the next generation of people to help us succeed in the future. We see huge value in providing local young people with an opportunity to build their confidence, skills and experience in a dynamic and innovative industry, in the hope they will stay with us for the rest of their career.”
The four-year engineering apprenticeships offer the chance to gain an NVQ Level III and a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in electrical or mechanical disciplines. The first year will be spent full-time at the Newport and District Group Training Association, learning safety and theory. The remaining years will then be spent at the Newport plant, providing first-hand site experience whilst attending college on a day release basis.
Apprenticeships are commonplace at many ExxonMobil sites in the UK and it is hoped that the Newport scheme will replicate their success and run for many years. Will added: “I feel really proud to be able to give young people the opportunity of an engineering career and to become the talented people that our company needs to succeed in the future. The new scheme closing date was 28 February 2021. Shortlisted applicants will now undergo aptitude testing in April, followed by face-to-face interviews at ExxonMobil Newport in May. The successful applicants will join the maintenance team at ExxonMobil Newport and start their training in September 2021. View the Apprenticeship scheme video here: https://player.vimeo.com/video/494060702
Also in this issue
AES Supports Rough Sleeper Intervention Team
The ExxonMobil AES team at Newport has made the lives of the town’s rough sleeper community a little easier thanks to a donation of £1,350. The money has been used to buy two new sofas, mobile phones and supplies for the drop-in centre operated by The Wallich’s Newport Rough Sleeper Intervention Team.
FEP investment in safe hands
Earlier this month (April) Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) temporarily shut down to begin a £140 million investment project. The man in charge of the project, Maarten ten Doesschate, has already overseen numerous such projects for ExxonMobil around the globe.
Our contribution helps Citizens Advice New Forest reach out at Food Larder
Citizens Advice New Forest has thanked ExxonMobil Fawley for its contribution towards a new pilot scheme aimed at helping people to access its vital services. The charity has received £1,500 from the site to help fund an outreach service to sit alongside the Food Larder project, a community partnership that helps those on low incomes to make their money go further by reducing food shopping bills.
Long service awards
ExxonMobil has renewed its corporate membership of the Royal Academy of Arts following a review of its sponsorship programme. This means ExxonMobil employees and their families can look forward to another year of creative inspiration and cultural experiences.
Reflecting on a 42-year career with EM
As Mark Wentworth’s long and notable career at ExxonMobil draws to a close, most recently as the head of the Corporation’s emergency Regional Response Team (RRT) in Europe Africa and the Middle East, Newsline has asked him to reflect on his many experiences. The story begins in 1979, when 16-year-old Mark first joined the company. It was the ‘winter of discontent’, the average house cost £13,650 and ‘Message in a Bottle’ by The Police was riding high in the pop charts.
