Bentley Motors has opened a new dedicated apprenticeship training facility - a workshop and classroom-based centre and home to Bentley’s largest apprentice intake in a decade.

The new facility, based at apprenticeship training provider Total People within South Cheshire College, has been developed as part of Bentley’s new manufacturing apprenticeship scheme, focused on strengthening core skills as Bentley prepares for the introduction of its SUV in 2016, and future growth.

The programme will utilise a dual education system, a tailored method based on competence profiles with approximately 70% of time devoted to practical and 30% to theoretical learning within chosen profession areas in manufacturing. 

Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley Motors' chairman and chief executive, said: “Today is an important milestone. We are not only welcoming our apprentices to Bentley, but introducing them to a new dedicated facility, and a brand new apprenticeship approach, inspiring them to pursue rewarding careers in engineering and manufacturing.     

“The foundation of future skills and knowledge comes from recruiting apprentices who will, long-term, become our skilled professionals and experts.

"And for them the hard but very rewarding work starts now. This new facility, and the use of dual education and our skilled experts will offer invaluable experience throughout, and a pathway to a structured future.”

The opening of the new facility adds to Bentley’s long established apprenticeship programme, running for more than 40 years.

The latest intake includes 52 apprentices, 12 of which will be based permanently at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, working in a number of different engineering and commercial fields.     

In addition to the apprenticeship programme, Bentley offers other trainee programmes, including graduate schemes, around 150 work experience placements each year and has an established school liaison programme providing workshops in local schools.