UWS Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are enabling Terumo Aortic, a global medical device company, to create a pipeline of talent from new entrants to future leaders.
Terumo Aortic, which develops and manufactures solutions for aortic and peripheral vascular disease, employs 850 staff at is Inchinnan site and exports to more than 100 countries.
Working in partnership with University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Terumo Aortic has introduced two UWS GA programmes (Engineering Design & Manufacture and Business Management) in engineering and business support roles. Three Associates have already graduated and a further 11 are currently completing a GA programme.
Thanks to successfully completing the University’s BEng Engineering Design & Manufacture GA in 2021, the first intake of three engineering Associates have enhanced their engineering knowledge and further developed their engineering competencies through a combination of academic and Work Based Learning.
Colin Maciver, Head of Engineering, said: “Completion of the GA programme has provided them with a great deal of confidence in their own abilities and, as a result, they have become more competent engineers. This increased confidence has in turn led them to take on more complex tasks and additional responsibility within their own teams. The Associates are now better prepared for approaching problem solving activities, identifying improvements and voicing their opinion as process subject matter experts within various forums and projects.
Their successful achievement of a degree also demonstrates a high level of academic proficiency and positions them as role models for their fellow Associates and peers within the business. As a result, there has been increased interest in, and participation on, subsequent GA programmes”.
Alongside considerable financial investment in the physical site infrastructure, Terumo Aortic has also made a significant commitment to the development of its workforce. GAs in particular are an integral part of an ambitious overarching employee development strategy. Recognised career pathways are being created to support employees to identify career opportunities across the business. Success profiles, which articulate the skills and behaviours required for the role, are being developed for every role and will be accessible to all staff. As well as supporting internal performance review processes, it is hoped that this transparency in relation to career development opportunities will improve staff retention as employees increase their awareness of wider opportunities within the business rather than looking outside.
Claire Dawson (pictured), Talent Development Advisor at Terumo Aortic said: “We remain steadfastly committed to offering opportunities for current and future colleagues to benefit from the Graduate Apprenticeship programme. The business is already seeing huge benefits from those Associates who have completed, or are currently undertaking, their studies and looks forward to offering these opportunities to more colleagues moving forward.”
To find out more about the BEng (Hons) Engineering Design & Manufacture Graduate Apprenticeship visit the programme page of the UWS website or email apprenticeships@uws.ac.uk
Last updated: 16/02/2022