JCB's New Apprenticeship Talent Search

An award-winning JCB apprentice is kickstarting National Apprenticeship Week by urging local youngsters to consider following in her footsteps.

Engineering Technician Apprentice, Amelia Dartnall, of Leek, this week graduates from the prestigious JCB Apprenticeship Scheme and is encouraging local school-leavers to explore careers with JCB by visiting its Apprenticeships Open Day on Saturday February 15th.

The Rocester-based digger giant, which has more than 370 apprentices on its books, is opening its Global Learning Centre doors to launch this year’s recruitment process and hopes to showcase apprenticeship opportunities to hundreds of students, parents and teachers.

The company is recruiting apprentices for its September 2025 intake - ranging from Level 2 welding and assembly opportunities for age 16+ to Level 3 Manufacturing, Engineering and Technician posts as well as business-wide degree apprenticeships.

Former Endon High School student, Ameila, 26, joined JCB after studying health care and health sciences and has gone on to win a string of national and regional awards: Regional Apprentice of the Year 2023, National Highly Commended Apprentice of the Year 2023 and Career Development Metals Apprentice of the Year 2024 awarded by The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers.

She said: “JCB offers a multitude of apprenticeship routes and the qualifications are transferrable skills that can take you anywhere. What’s great about an apprenticeship is you get to say yes to new experiences without being afraid to fail. We all learn from our mistakes and the best thing about being an apprentice is that you CAN make mistakes."

“I have learned a great deal from many mentors and shadowing the experts, continuously asking questions and just getting stuck in. I also had the opportunity to gain an extra qualification alongside my apprenticeship in ultrasonic weld testing, and this opened up many doors for me as it made me the only qualified ultrasonic weld tester in the whole of JCB UK."

“My ambition now is to enter a leadership role within JCB. I would also like to continue to advocate for apprenticeships and use the knowledge and experiences I have gained to inspire future apprentices to ensure they take as much as they can from the experience.”

The JCB Apprenticeships Open Day will feature two sessions – 10am and 1pm – with insight talks on the journey through a JCB apprenticeship, how to apply, opportunities for women in engineering and the exciting projects which apprentices take part in.

JCB Early Careers Talent Manager Neil Fowkes said: “JCB is one of the largest manufacturers of construction equipment in the world. Through our apprenticeship schemes we are proud to train and develop the next generation of engineers, assemblers and business administrators who will keep us at the forefront of innovation and always pushing those boundaries."

“More than 1,800 people have joined us through our Early Careers programmes. Whether it is working on our ground-breaking Hydrogen engines or welding our world-leading Backhoe Loaders, our apprenticeship schemes are integral to our vision of the future."

“We hope young people and those considering a career change will take this opportunity to visit us and hear for themselves about the varied and exciting opportunities at JCB. The open day could be their first step on an incredibly exciting pathway into work.”

To find out more about apprenticeships and careers at JCB visit their website here and if you are interested in attending the Global Learning Centre Open Day can register at www.eventbrite.co.uk and search JCB Apprenticeship and Graduate Open Day.