A specialist electrical communications and security firm has embarked on a new approach to recruitment as businesses across the North East continue to feel the effects of the region’s skills shortage.
Established in 2009, Cramlington-based MRM Solutions specialises in the installation of CCTV, aerials and satellites, alarms and fire detection equipment. Last year, the company doubled in size, opening two new offices in Yorkshire and Scotland. It currently employs 18 staff.
But when it came time to recruit engineers to support its rapid growth, it was difficult to find qualified staff who could be trained from day one in line with its own ways of working. It has now taken the decision to adopt a more work-based training model and has recently taken on its first apprentice, 17-year-old Nathan Bailey.
Chris Darling, operations director, said: “The recession hit small businesses hard, and many good, experienced and qualified people were made redundant. Demand for jobs was high and good quality engineers have now either moved on or retrained, meaning there are fewer of them looking for work at a time when we are expanding very quickly. It’s a big problem, but one we’re hoping our new recruitment model will help to address.”
Nathan has enrolled on an Installing Security Systems apprenticeship, the same course Chris completed with Access training when he left full time education. Nathan said: “It’s quite difficult to find work straight from college, demand is high for the good jobs and without hands on experience, it can be difficult to convince an employer that you’re the right person for the job. By joining an apprenticeship programme, I gain that experience while finishing my college course, I get paid, and MRM Solutions is able to grow its team and train me in its own way of doing things.”
Chris added: “It’s a solution that really works for both the employer and the apprentice. Having been an apprentice myself, I know how successful the programmes can be. I think it was this early access to real-life work experience that helped me climb the career ladder into a senior role so quickly, and I have no doubt the same will be the case with Nathan.”
Course trainer Michael Jamieson, who was recently appointed by Gateshead-based Access Training specifically to deliver this programme, added: “Within the security industry, there are new changes coming into force that require employers to be able to evidence their engineers competency. Completing an apprenticeship is one of the ways this can be done, so we are seeing a pretty rapid increase in demand for this particular course.
“Despite still being relatively new to the course, Nathan is already able to demonstrate that he’s working competently. He’s confident, works safely and is quickly building up his knowledge and hands-on skills which will be a real asset to MRM Solutions as it continues to grow.”
Access Training is an award-winning training provider with offices in Gateshead and Durham. It has been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for 30 years. To find out more about the Installing Security Systems course or others available, visit www.accesstraining.org