Triple accreditation for Training Centre sees scheme expand to create next generation of innovative engineers

Global process engineering company, Briggs of Burton PLC has created a dedicated training centre at its Staffordshire headquarters to support the next generation of innovative engineers.

The Briggs Engineering Graduate Training Scheme, which has now been recognised by all three of the industry’s leading professional bodies, aims to make a career in engineering accessible to all as it looks to recruit more young people into the industry.

This month the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) joined the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) in accrediting the Briggs scheme which provides graduates with the opportunity to gain Chartered status while working on leading engineering projects around the globe.

John Hancock, who was the company’s first process engineer in 1989 before going on to become Technical Director, said it was a momentous day for the company who continues to work towards supporting future growth in the industry.

Now a Technical Consultant, John, lay the foundation to the initiative which is designed to make a career in engineering accessible to all.

He said:” Nationally there is a shortage of engineers coming into the Food and Beverages industry as most are drawn to petrochemical and other sectors. Through our graduate training scheme, we seek to empower the next generation of engineers to support the largest UK Manufacturing sector to thrive. It’s an exciting time to join the industry and here at Briggs we want to do our bit to help the younger generation get excited about engineering a sustainable future.

“I am proud to be at the forefront of Briggs’ Accredited Training Centre in Burton on Trent, at the heart of the UK’s Brewing industry.”

The training centre is a unique opportunity for graduates and apprentices to be involved in global turnkey projects, which create bespoke engineering solutions from initial concept and design to build and final completion. The team are involved in some of the world’s largest engineering projects from  brewing and distilling through to pharmaceuticals, food, and biotech, creating a varied experience.

Rob Davis, Project Engineering Manager at Briggs and lead on the IMechE Accreditation scheme, said it was a unique opportunity to help nurture and grow the next generation of leading engineers.

He said; “Having the opportunity to mentor, lead and succeed in getting the accreditation from the IMechE has been extremely rewarding and a positive way to start the year.

“Briggs’ core focus is to give our young engineers a well-rounded experience putting theory into practice. Training and development are at the heart of the scheme, and we hope to help more graduates in the future preparing them to deliver multi-discipline projects around the world.”

The new accreditations mean that the scheme is now supported by all three of the leading engineering bodies in helping graduates to achieve their formal Chartered status and provide the necessary training to support young engineers into the industry.

Molly Adey, Project Engineer, at Briggs of Burton is one of the graduates to have benefited from the scheme said it was a fantastic opportunity to be involved in turnkey engineering projects at such a young age in her career. Turnkey engineering refers to the creation of complete bespoke solutions for projects right from initial concept and design to build and final completion.

She said: “The Briggs Engineering Graduate Training Scheme has been invaluable to my early career development. I have always viewed Chartership as the next step in my ongoing education, and during the past year I have been working my way towards this goal. I have found the support and continued guidance from my mentors and colleagues at Briggs beyond helpful. I’ve been able to work within different industries both in the office and on site and be involved in the various phases of projects from initial design to completion.

“Currently I am working on a large pharmaceutical project in the UK and have been responsible for leading project engineering activities on site. I have been given a large amount of responsibility working on fast paced projects which has not only challenged me but prepared me to develop skills across a variety of areas.”

The dedicated training centre aims to offer ongoing graduate and apprenticeship opportunities to help develop the next generation of workers across all sectors of the business and is currently recruiting in engineering, sales, automation and manufacturing.

Briggs of Burton, which has six sites across the world including its headquarters in Derby Street, Burton on Trent, has already supported 20 UK graduates in the last year and is looking to take on more young people as it plans to double its turnover in the next 3 years.

Last year, Briggs unveiled a new multi-million-pound investment in the UK after transforming their Midlands headquarters into a brand new Global Technical Centre. The move followed continued successes in the Brewing and Distilling industries but also advances into growing Food and Pharmaceutical sectors.

Briggs’ history can be traced back over 285 years, specialising in brewing equipment and engineering and is known worldwide for its turnkey brewing and distilling capabilities. Started by Samuel Briggs in 1865, Briggs later acquired Thornewill & Warham, established in Burton in 1732. 

Today the company, which employs over 250 staff across six sites including Burton on Trent, Prestonpans, Edinburgh in Scotland, Rochester, New York State, Louisville, Kentucky, Shanghai and Puebla, Mexico provides turnkey process engineering solutions for leading companies across the world covering North America, Europe, Central America, Africa, Australia, Japan, and China.

Their innovative and sustainable approach means that Briggs of Burton PLC are leading the way in nurturing the engineers and technical capabilities to drive efficiencies and environmental improvements across all sectors of manufacturing. More information on apprenticeship and graduate opportunities is available at https://www.briggsplc.com/graduate-recruitment.