CAR makers Rover and BMW are hunting for 12 young people to take part in a pioneering European apprenticeship scheme, writes David Duffy.

The fortunate few will be the first to join the European Engineering Development Scheme, Rover Group's latest 16+ engineering training programme.

But they'll need much more than just GCSEs in English, maths and science/technology to be selected for the scheme.

Rover Group is looking for young people who have already developed some German language skills and, preferably, have taken part in at least one European exchange programme with their school.

Education and careers manager John Berkeley, leading the development for Rover Group, emphasises the importance of the European scheme. "We need a new generation of young engineers who are equally at home working in the UK or in Germany.

"This new programme will not only give them the best training Rover and BMW can provide, but will broaden their horizons, providing the all-important European dimension."

Building on the success of Rover Group's Integrated Engineering Development Scheme, the new European programme will provide opportunities to achieve engineering NVQ and GNVQ qualifications. Mr Berkeley said those with the necessary aptitude and motivation could progress to a degree course after two years.

Trainees will spend up to a year living and working in Germany and Austria during their apprenticeship.

The first group of 12 Euro-apprentices will start in September., spending a week at an outdoor pursuit centre in Devon to develop their self-confidence and team-working skills alongside the rest of Rover Group's new intake of apprentices and graduate trainees.

Then they will be off to Germany for up to a month, with their college tour, to begin practising language skills, becoming familiar with differences in culture and getting first-hand experience of apprentice training in BMW.

There will be another month abroad in the second year and, in the third year, those who progress to the degree phase will spend up to six months living and working in BMW, either in Munich or at the engine plant at Steyr, Austria.

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