Manufacturing Technology Centre Training has collaborated with Aston Business School to provide an MBA degree tailored for the development of leaders in manufacturing organisations of all sizes and sectors.

The Management of Manufacturing MBA degree apprenticeship is delivered over two years, helping learners accommodate full-time work and personal responsibilities while successfully completing the qualification.

The programme can be funded via the apprenticeship levy, which means there are no fees for the learner. It is also accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, with membership included during, and for a year after, the programme.

The Level 7 apprenticeship merges practical elements of industrial experience with academic theory and strategic thinking to empower learners to boost productivity throughout production lines and business processes.

The qualification is delivered through a combination of remote and face-to-face learning. This gives learners the flexibility to study and progress within their existing day-to-day work and home lives, while also providing the rich experience of learning on-campus in a face-to-face environment with peers and learning academics.

David Hughes MBE, managing director of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre said the new collaboration supported MTC Training’s commitment to deliver professional development and future skills to the manufacturing workforce throughout all stages of their careers.

He said, “Our specialists MBA programme offers a fantastic opportunity for senior managers to develop the skills and knowledge to help them improve productivity and business performance. It is a great way for manufacturers to develop and retain the talent that will help them drive their business forward.”

The MBA programme can help to increase apprentices’ lifetime earning potential by up to three times, accelerating their career and supporting them to become more valued experts in their organisations. Like all apprenticeships it also carries the added bonus of enabling learners to earn while they learn.

One of the first to undertake the programme is Tom Driscoll at the Manufacturing Technology Centre. He said, “The MBA will supplement my engineering background with strong skills in areas such as finance, marketing, strategy and leadership and enable me to apply this directly in my work at the MTC. The skills and knowledge I will develop through the MBA will allow me to take the next step in my career.”

More information about the Management of Manufacturing MBA Degree Apprenticeship is available at mba@the-mtc.org, or learners can apply directly for the programme by visiting http://www.the-amtc.co.uk/degree-apprenticeships.

MTC Training is revolutionising the skills landscape. Using a unique insight into the very latest technologies, techniques and processes, proven experts deliver an extensive training offer at the cutting edge of industrial innovation, from apprenticeships right up to senior management level training.

Located in the centre of Birmingham, one of the UK’s most entrepreneurial cities, Aston Business School works to develop individuals to perform better within enterprises and their professions. It is consistently recognised by the world’s most prominent rankings as being at the forefront of business education. Aston is part of an elite group of global business schools that hold the gold standard of “triple crown” accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, and recently achieved the maximum Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd. The MTC’s industrial members include some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.

The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.