A spirited group of first year apprentices were honoured to welcome Tom Ball, Vice President of Manufacturing at the Ansty and Barnoldswick sites of Rolls-Royce, for an engaging visit to Burnley College last month.
The apprentices proudly led a tour of our exceptional, industry-leading facilities –including our incredible 5-Axis CNC machines for milling and turning – and showcased the advanced skills and knowledge that they are developing as part of their training.
The visit highlights the power that partnerships between education and industry hold to shape the next generation of engineering talent.
Tom himself started his career as an apprentice and thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to build a rapport with his younger colleagues, as well as the chance to offer them advice on the possibilities for progression that their apprenticeships will unlock.
He shared:
“My recent visit to Burnley College to meet our first-year apprentices was energising and inspiring.
“I started my Rolls-Royce journey as an apprentice and it’s great to share my learning experience with the next generation of talent. Their enthusiasm for learning, hands-on skills and excitement at joining Rolls-Royce really shone through.
“Watching them collaborate, ask questions and demonstrate their growing confidence showcased the strong future talent we have joining the team in Barnoldswick.
“The facilities provided by Burnley College are state of the art and represent a high-performing manufacturing environment representative of what we do in Rolls-Royce on a daily basis.”
Sarah Haworth, Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning Coordinator at Burnley College, commended the apprentices for their hard work and dedication:
“This was such an inspiring visit for the apprentices, they did us proud with how articulate and passionate they were when speaking to Tom.
“You could really tell that Tom made them feel valued as part of the wider Rolls Royce team; this visit will be just the motivational boost that they need as they start their apprenticeship journey.”
As one of the North West’s leading apprenticeship training providers, Themis strives to offer apprentices valuable opportunities to connect with top-level industry leaders, as well as the chance to experience hands-on learning with the region’s leading manufacturers.
Tom’s visit cements Burnley College and Rolls Royce’s joint commitment to driving innovation and equipping young people with the technical skills, adaptability and resilience they need to thrive.
Find out how you can follow in the footsteps of our fantastic engineering apprentices and unlock your potential The Themis Way: https://www.burnley.ac.uk/themis-home/
