Rolls-Royce in hunt for apprentices | Industry - Car News Feb 2012

11:08 Friday 10 Feb 2012

Luxury car maker Rolls Royce has launched a new campaign looking nationwide for new candidates to its Apprenticeship Programme.

The successful applicants will join the programme at the end of August 2012 and it will offer skilled craft training in areas such as leather, wood, paint, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, assembly and finesse roles.

The Rolls Royce company portfolio includes some of the best cars ever built. Among them includes the pinnacle Phantom family products - Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase, Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé - and the more recently-launched Ghost range. Demand for all variants remains strong.

“We are delighted to announce that Rolls-Royce is seeking candidates for its Apprenticeship Programme. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the development and training of young people at the very highest levels of UK manufacturing”, said Andrew Ball, Corporate Communications Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, speaking at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) launch event for National Apprentice Week.

“Our new apprentices will join the company at an exciting time, with Rolls-Royce having recently announced record sales in the company’s 107-year history.”

Launched in 2006 the Rolls Royce Apprenticeship Programme offers those aged 16-24 the opportunity to work on some of the best luxury cars in the world. The full training apprenticeships last up to 4 years and since launch more than 30 young people have found employment with the company since completing their course.

The company also runs a successful graduate programme scheme each year.

In January Rolls-Royce revealed record sales results for 2011. The company sold 3,538 cars globally during the year, a 31 per cent increase on the 2010 total of 2,711 cars.

The figure represents the best sales result in the company’s 107-year history; the previous record of 3,347 cars having been set in 1978 during the Silver Shadow II era. Interest in Ghost - including Ghost Extended Wheelbase, which was launched to wide acclaim in April 2011 - accounted for the majority of the 2011 growth.