09 Mar 2015

Intertek, the leading global quality solutions provider, says industry needs to encourage more young people into science and technology by offering careers at all entry levels.

Employers continue to report a lack of STEM candidates for recruitment - more than a third of companies (39%) needing employees with STEM skills currently have difficulty finding staff - according to the CBI who also predict a skills shortfall of 40,000 STEM technicians and operators by 2022.

Intertek, which currently offers more than 35 young people a year across the UK the opportunity to join the company through apprenticeships, graduate traineeships, and on-the-job training, says that key to reversing this trend is to provide young people with the chance to see the opportunities open to them in STEM at all entry levels.

One of Intertek’s apprentices, Damien Beesley, 20, who works as an Apprentice Analyst for Intertek’s Chemical and Pharmaceutical laboratory in Manchester, while studying a BTec in Applied Science at Trafford College of Science and Technology explained how he joined the company and how much he enjoys what he now does:

“I had gone to college to do IT and maths and wasn’t sure what to do next and so was working in a bar in Wigan. I was pretty sure that I did not want to go to Uni. My brother-in-law had heard about the Apprentice scheme at Intertek and so I submitted my CV and was offered an interview. A few days later I was offered an Apprenticeship.”

The apprentice based in Hexagon Tower said: “I get to use some really exciting bits of kit! Some days I work using an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry to test which chemical elements are in a sample and some days I get to work on the ICP-OES instrument (stands for inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy) which can tell the levels of metal elements that are in the sample.

“I feel proud when I see products in shops that I may have worked on and so have helped the clients who make the products, in some small way, to make sure they are safe and have no harmful chemicals in them,” Damian adds.

Intertek, whose founder Thomas Edison is known for his discovery of the light bulb, offers young people an entry into science and engineering careers at all levels through apprenticeships, graduate places, placement opportunities and on-the-job traineeships.

With more than 2,200 expert staff in 66 locations across UK & Eire, Intertek employs scientists, engineers, auditors and laboratory technicians with a diverse range of expertise, technical and scientific skills.

For further information, please contact:

Joanne Merriweather
UK PR Manager
Tel: +44 07786 525390
Email: joanne.merriweather@intertek.com

About Intertek

Intertek is the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 36,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in the global marketplace, by helping customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Visit www.intertek.com.