An engineering company has been recognised for its contribution to apprenticeships by a recent Institute of Physics (IOP) report

FMB Oxford, based on the Osney Mead industrial estate, has been recognised in the "Solving Skills One Year On: Partnerships Powering Apprenticeships" report

FMB Oxford, with 60 employees, has found leveraging apprenticeships beneficial, having overcome challenges often faced by similarly sized organisations when engaging with the apprenticeship system.

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Bev O’Farrell, HR at FMB Oxford: "The real benefit of having an apprentice is watching them come in and grow in confidence, knowledge and experience."

The company collaborates with Engineering Trust Training Limited to ensure their apprentices receive highly specialist training, rotations around the business, and international exposure.

As a result, several have been retained as permanent employees.

FMB Oxford, which manufactures instruments for photon delivery systems or particle accelerators, was nominated for Apprenticeship Employer of the Year at the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership awards in 2023.

IOP's report shines a spotlight on organisations across the UK and Ireland that are promoting apprenticeships, addressing the need for physics-demanding jobs, 53 per cent of which do not require a degree.

Tom Grinyer, IOP CEO, said: “It is great to see the success of the organisations who have overcome significant barriers to unlock more physics-related apprenticeships, and I hope that showcasing these examples of good practice will inspire others to follow in their footsteps."