' LEYLAND LAUNCHES m. TRAINING SCHEME
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
nETAILS of a new and comprehensive training scheme which involves the investment of £250,000 and which will cater for young men from apprentices right through to university graduates were announced on Tuesday. The announcement was made by Mr. Donald G. Stokes, managing director and deputy chairman of the Leyland Motor Corporation, at the annual presentation of prizes to Leyland apprentices. The new scheme will cover every aspect of technical and business training. not only up to the age of 21 but right through the early formative years. "Once having finished their apprenticeship and having qualified at technical school or university ", said Mr. Stokes, "we want to make sure that they are guided and directed in their early stages of employment so that they can get the best all-round experience." The corn'pan)', for their part, would get the benefit of well-trained men in the right jobs, he said, and the expenditure involved in the scheme was an act of faith in the future of the Leyland Group. The extra facilities involved in putting the training scheme into operation include building a new hall of residence for 100 students and graduate engineers; doubling the area of the self-contained training centre for apprentices and equipping it with the latest machine tools; inaugurating new company scholarships and bursaries at universities and colleges of advanced technology, with values up to £550 per annum each, plus fees; and developing training programmes for
specialized professions and trades.
"Training courses have now been implemented for foremen and supervisors ", said Mr. Stokes, "and we are going to have an annual review of outstanding young men as part of our management development programme." These young men would be trained for the most suitable openings—with works or overseas experience where necessary. There would thus be developed a flexible training scheme "with the way to the top open to anyone of ability, no matter at what level they may have entered into our scheme".
Mr. Stokes said that the scheme would eventually be extended to cover every company in the Corporation, whatever its size or location.