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13 March 2015

Over 100 current and former e2v Apprentices celebrate National Apprenticeship Week with The Rt Hon Simon Burns

According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, over 2 million Apprenticeships have started across the UK since 2010, offering school leavers the opportunity to earn a wage whilst developing the skills they need to embark on a successful career in the field of their choice.  e2v in Chelmsford is proud to have been offering Apprenticeships for almost 60 years and is honoured to have many former Apprentices still working for the Company – in some cases over 50 years after joining – sharing their knowledge and skills.

Over the past week, e2v employees have been celebrating National Apprenticeship Week by participating in a host of activities and events to promote the advantages of Apprenticeships nationally.

Four e2v Directors went back to the factory floor to spend the morning as Apprentices, undertaking tasks such as testing radiotherapy equipment, getting ‘hands on’ in the Model Shop, setting up the testing of imaging sensors for space missions and building a thermal imaging camera from start to finish. Short videos of their experiences, including interviews with the Directors and Apprentices, can be found on e2v’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/e2vtechnologies

Four former Apprentices who have over 100 years of experience between them share their stories and support of e2v Apprenticeships in these short ‘Then and Now’ videos which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/user/e2vtechnologies

Head of People Development and Engagement at e2v, Sara Laver, was delighted to welcome Member of Parliament for Chelmsford The Rt Hon Simon Burns MP, along with representatives from local schools, to e2v’s Chelmsford facility.  They met former and current Apprentices as well as toured the site, discovering why Apprenticeships are the future of the UK workforce.

Finally, the week of activities was brought to a celebratory close as employees hosted the first ‘Apprentice Games’, pitting the young and eager current Apprentices against the long-standing, knowledgeable and experienced former Apprentices.  In a battle of skill, logic, physical ability and engineering expertise the former Apprentices proved themselves the mightier, as they walked away with the ‘Apprentice Games’ trophy.

Sara Laver commented, “Apprenticeships not only provide a great experience for those participating in them, giving them the knowledge and experience they need to carve out the career path they choose, they also offer exceptional value to businesses across the UK. Our Apprentices are an integral part of our Company, building equipment that’s discovering the origins of the universe and developing technology that is treating people for cancer every two minutes. This whole week has been great fun for everyone who has participated and we hope that it has raised the profile of not only our e2v Apprenticeship scheme, but Apprenticeships as a whole.”

For more information about e2v Apprenticeships visit www.e2v.com/apprentices  

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Media Contact: For enquiries about this press release contact: Jennifer Spencer-Charles; Jennifer.Spencer-Charles@e2v.com   

Notes to Editor:

About e2v: e2v is a leading global provider of specialist technology for high performance systems and equipment delivering solutions, sub-systems and components for applications within Medical & Science, Aerospace & Defence and Commercial & Industrial markets. e2v employs approximately 1750 people, has design and operational facilities across Europe, North America and Asia, and has a global network of sales and technical support offices. e2v has annual sales of GBP220m and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For e2v media enquiries contact:

Press office: +44 (0)1245 453625

Mobile: +44 (0)7803 150945

Visit: www.e2v.com

Apprentice Games Apprentice Games Former Apprentices win the Apprentice Games Over 100 former and current Apprentices Director Dr Ewan Livingston becomes and Apprentice for the day Thr RtHon Simon Burms meets e2v Apprentices and staff