A survey of clients by Derby-based engineering and technical recruitment specialists Syntax Consultancy has confirmed widespread opposition to government plans to downgrade vocational qualifications – warning that the move would compound skills shortages faced by engineering and manufacturing companies.

Syntax Engineering division, which works with a wide range of businesses throughout the region to source engineering skills , have contacted key clients to gain their views and to encourage them to sign an online petition against the proposals.

As part of a wide-ranging review into vocational education, the engineering qualification which has been developed by JCB and Rolls-Royce, is set to have its quality status removed – prompting widespread objections from engineering and manufacturing businesses across the UK.

The current Engineering Diploma for 14 to 19-year-olds is valued as being equivalent to five GCSE’s and there are proposals to downgrade this to one.

Syntax Engineering and Technical Recruitment Director Charlotte Coe explained: “As a business passionate about promoting engineering as a valued and worthwhile career – we would totally disagree with this move and I am heartened that the clients we have contacted agree with our objections.

“The skills shortages faced now by engineering and manufacturing businesses across the UK are well documented.  This move, with no plans to replace the Engineering Diploma any time soon with an alternative qualification, will only compound the situation for generations to come.

“The Engineering Diploma gives young people the opportunity to learn practical vocational skills that are vitally needed in the workplace. It has only been established since 2008 and was developed in partnership with two of the region’s most high profile and respected engineering companies. 

“It is widely recognised as a significant route to providing the crucial technical and practical skills that young people will need to enable Britain to compete internationally and should therefore have the value and worth that it deserves.”

Martin Johnson, Senior Recruiter at the Nottingham-based European manufacturing and distribution base of global specialist components manufacturer Greene, Tweed, added: “It is getting harder to find high calibre degree educated mechanical engineers and this move at secondary school level will further exacerbate that situation.

“University entry requirements have been lowered and more diverse degrees introduced which divert talented individuals away from the core engineering skills.

“By reducing vocational options in schools, the route into higher education and the workplace for the kind of engineers that we and other businesses need will be narrowed even further and young people will be given yet another reason not to choose engineering as a career.

“Without high quality vocational qualifications available to young people – we are effectively cementing the out dated view that careers in engineering are not for the bright and ambitious.

“We therefore need to give equal value to qualifications such as this and show young people that engineering is a good career needing well qualified people and dispelling the image of it being a dirty and low paid profession.”

For more information on the campaign, click here

To join the campaign, sign the petition here

"Search and Select"

Engineering and technical recruitment specialists Syntax Consultancy has launched a head hunting service to tackle the mounting skills shortages faced by engineering and manufacturing businesses throughout the UK.

Syntax, which is the Midlands’ leading independent recruitment consultancy for the engineering sector with offices in Derby and more recently London, have expanded their service in response to increasing difficulty by clients to source senior personnel with the right skills and experience.

Engineering and Technical Recruitment Director Charlotte Coe explained: “Skills shortages in engineering and manufacturing have been building up for years now – the culmination of historical cut backs in in-house training by companies and the lack of recognition and promotion throughout the education system of engineering as an exciting and rewarding career."

“This has been exacerbated in more recent years with the economic downturn which has forced companies to pull back even further on training and developing their staff as well as a reluctance amongst established people in this sector to move jobs in such an uncertain climate."

“The upshot is that, as manufacturing and engineering companies are looking to expand and grow out of recession, they are now not able to source the right people for the right, more senior positions in their businesses."

“This is being experienced by companies right across the board in the engineering and manufacturing sector not just in the UK but throughout the world – particularly in Australia."

“The response from clients for this bespoke service has already been extremely positive, particularly amongst those businesses who have specific requirements for an appointment that is crucial to the future of their business and who recognise that going down the ‘search and select’ option for recruitment will yield the best results."

“Using our expertise, industry knowledge and executive level network of contacts, we are able to offer a guaranteed shortlist of candidates to the client’s exact specification with an agreed timetable."

“The fact that businesses are prepared to invest in finding these sought after people is a positive indication that manufacturing and engineering is buoyant with fantastic prospects for the right people."

“We are therefore confident that this specialised service will help our clients stay ahead of the competition to remain competitive and be in the position to take full advantage of the economic upturn as it slowly emerges worldwide.”

For more information on the "Search and Select" service, please contact Charlotte Coe on 01332 287770

Syntax has donated a proportion of its usual Christmas card costs Childline which has offices in the East Midlands and in London.

The company has significantly reduced the scale of its Christmas card distribution this year and has donated the £1,000 difference in spend to Childline.

Managing Director Roger Frost continued: “We obviously still wanted to send cards to our customers and suppliers to thank them for their support this year but have made savings in production and postage which we are donating to Childline which is a charity close to people’s hearts and operates in areas closely aligned to our own business operations.”

www.nspcc.org.uk
 

Staff at Syntax Consultancy raised nearly £2,000 for local and national charities through their individual and joint efforts during 2011.

The company raised £270 for Comic Relief through a variety of ‘mad cap’ activities in March.  This was followed by a brave group of adventurers who abseiled down the neighbouring Cathedral tower, raising £500 for Derbyshire Mountain Rescue. 

In October, staff raised almost £100 for Breast Cancer Campaign by ‘wearing it pink’ and this was closely followed by over £100 donation to Children in Need.

The year finished with the company donating £1,000 to ChildLine in lieu of company Christmas cards.

Marketing Executive Hannah Dimond commented: “I am really proud of everyone at Syntax for digging deep and raising money for these charities. I hope we can go above and beyond £2,000 this year, by getting involved in various activities such as Sport Relief in March.”

Syntax Managing Director Roger Frost said: “Everyone has made a huge effort to raise money for charity this year and I am very proud that these activities have helped to change the lives of people facing all sorts of issues in their lives.”

“Congratulations to everyone at Syntax.”

www.comicrelief.com

www.derbymrt.org.uk

www.wearitpink.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

www.nspcc.org.uk

Syntax IT services has been delivering quality IT solutions and services to a wide range of clients and industry sectors for over 12 years.

We have a total dedication to customer care and a genuine desire to see our clients companies flourish. Regardless of the size of your organisation; no matter if you need an old system supporting, a new system designing or the upgrading and expansion of an existing one, Syntax IT Services have an intelligent, original and effective solution to your IT needs.  Only by understanding our client’s business issues and how IT can help to overcome these, can we hope to win a client’s good will, confidence and trust.

The goal of Syntax IT Services is to ensure that our clients gain maximum benefit from any investment in Technology and Support. This requires a clear understanding of the business goals in the first instance and subsequently how any investment in IT supports those goals.

We work in partnership with our customers to gain an in-depth understanding of their organisation and create a technology strategy to support transformation, drive operational efficiency and reduce costs.

Syntax Engineering and Technical division is the Midlands largest independent recruitment consultancy, specialising in engineering and technical recruitment throughout the UK with offices in Derby and London.

Established in 1987, Syntax is a founder member of the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation), APSCo (Association of Professional Staffing Companies) and an accredited supplier of recruitment services to successful companies in the private sector both large and small.

The Syntax Engineering and Technical division is an active member of The Midland Aerospace Alliance and Derbyshire Rail Forum.

The Syntax Engineering and Technical team are specialists in their field and not only have the ability to find perfectly matched applicants, but also provide a discrete, streamlined and efficient recruitment process that will save you time and money

Syntax IT Recruitment provides permanent and contract IT and business professionals to the UK’s leading organisations.

We help to make our clients more successful by providing them with the best specialist IT and business professionals on the market.

Working closely with our clients and candidates, we are a trusted advisor to help source the right candidate for the role, and the right role for the candidate. We pride ourselves on going one step further by spending time to truly understand our client’s specific needs, culture, working environment, ethos and values.

Here at Syntax we have earned an exceptional track record in delivering results, no matter how complex or specialist your recruitment needs – that’s why Syntax IT Recruitment have 99.4 % client retention rate year on year.

The statistics speak for themselves:

• 97.3% of permanent candidates placed by Syntax are still with their employers 12 months after starting
• More than 99% of Syntax contractors complete their initial contract
• 97% of Syntax contractors extend their contracts
• Syntax placed 1,100 contractors and more than 200 permanent candidates in 2010

Our expert business practices are in vertical technology product markets for clients & candidates including:

• Infrastructure
• Digital
• Microsoft Technologies

We regularly meet candidates before being placed to build trusted relationships, and get to understand our candidates and customers’ needs to ensure that we introduce them to positions that fully match both requirements and expectations.

Why Derby?

Derby is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a fantastic heritage, including a World Heritage Site in the city centre, and an exciting future.

Derby is famous for setting in motion Britain's Industrial Revolution with some of the country’s first factories and spinning mills. Much of Derbyshire's industrial heritage is within the recently designated "Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site" which includes marvellous architecture set in breath-taking natural scenery. It is equally famous for the later factories of Rolls Royce, Royal Crown Derby and Railway engineering. The thriving City centre boasts an excellent range of entertainment venues, attractions, pubs, restaurants, parks and open spaces.

For more information about Derby, click here.

Why London?

London is one of the most fascinating places in the world. As well as world class museums, galleries, monuments, churches, famous buildings, there are clubs, concert venues, musicals, theatres and of course shops. There is 2000 years of history here, homes of famous writers and musicians and anything else you could possibly want.

For more information about London, click here.

Current Vacancies

We are always looking for new talented individuals, we offer great rates of pay, flexible working conditions and a great team, you'll find a rewarding career with great opportunities here at Syntax.
 
If you’re interested in any of  the opportunities below please send your CV along with a covering letter to resourcing@syntaxconsultancy.com for initial consideration. We will be in contact if your skills and experience match our requirements. If your application is accepted, you’ll be contacted by our Recruitment team to set up an initial interview. Should you pass through this phase successfully, your second interview will be with one of our managers.