Biscuit and confectionery company, pladis, has signed an Engineering Apprenticeship Agreement with union Unite.

The deal will see close to 50 new apprentices recruited into engineering roles at the company by 2020.

The five-year UK Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Programme will take place across pladis's seven sites throughout the country.

The apprentices will receive comprehensive training in the repair and maintenance of a wide range of packaging and processing equipment, under the mentorship of highly skilled and experienced engineering employees and Unite members.

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Neil Smith, Head of Manufacturing HR at pladis, said: "Engineering apprentices are integral to our continuing success and we're proud to support their development. At pladis, we continually invest in our apprentices by providing intensive and rewarding work experiences, as well as offering best-in-industry training programmes. We are also proud of the network of mentors around the business who offer the insights, skills and support to help kick-start lifelong careers in this exciting industry."

Rhys McCarthy, National Officer at Unite, added: "We believe a better skilled workforce, in better paid jobs, is good for workers, good for businesses and good for the economy. The new recruits to this programme will know that Unite will continue to support them to secure a fair deal at work. It shows apprentices that Unite exists not just to protect pay, terms and conditions but in the actual quality of the training they receive and the reputation of their apprenticeship in the industry they work in."

(LM/MH)