The outbreak of coronavirus has now become a public health concern around the world and the health and wellbeing of apprentices training at the MTC is of paramount importance to us.
As with any health concern, we at MTC want to make sure we are taking appropriate actions and reducing the possibility of exposure.
In line with Government advice, we have taken the decision to close the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre. The training centre will remain closed to all apprentices, employers and members of the public until further notice. We will continue to work with you as UK Government provides further updates and their implications.
Our delivery team have been planning for the possible closure in recent weeks and have provided apprentices with a range of activities to complete whilst we remain closed.
All apprentices have access to our E-Learning courses; have been set Knowledge Questions to support their unit completion and have been tasked with regularly emailing work to their trainers/assessors to keep progressing in their apprenticeship. They will have regular touch points throughout the week with us and training schedule will be rearranged to provide minimal disruption.
We will be able to support apprentices throughout any period of isolation, and the Department for Education has issued guidance that will permit a break in learning, further information below. You should note the additional provisions of point 3, as they may apply as part of any business continuity plan you have in place.
“In order to support the sector during any disruption which may be experienced due to Covid-19 these are the initial recommendations from the Department for Education:
There is a need for everyone (employer, provider, EPAO, Apprentice) to take a reasonable and balanced approach in these situations and to recognise that the health and wellbeing of individuals is a higher priority than performance measures. We know that good communications between each of these parties is important to the successful delivery of EPA anyway. So, in these circumstances that communication becomes even more important. The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) will shortly be publishing guidance for this area in response to potential disruption from Covid-19.”
If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to get in touch with us.
We would like to thank our employers and apprentices for their cooperation in this matter and look forward to re-opening the training centre at the earliest opportunity.
Kind Regards
David Hughes MBE CEng FIET
Managing Director
Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC)