Monahans, one of the largest accountancy firms in the west of England, has announced details of its next Manufacturing Breakfast. The event will take place at UTC Swindon, Bristol Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 5ET on Thursday 16 April 2015, commencing at 7.30 am.

Attendees will hear from Dr Simon Farrell, head of apprentice and associate training at BMW. Simon will discuss the car manufacturer's apprenticeship programme, which attained the highest grade of Outstanding from Ofsted, through his talk, 'Providing enviable positions in an ever changing automotive world'.

Joining Simon will be two current BMW apprentices. They will speak about the training they've received and the career opportunities open to them. The apprentices will also discuss the responsibilities and benefits of working for a globally recognised brand.  

Apprenticeships is a hot topic for employers. The number of people undertaking engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships has risen by 52 per cent since 20091, as more people see it as the most viable opportunity to start a career in the industry. 

Looking forward to the event, Martin Longmore, partner at Monahans, said: “The topics we'll be discussing revolve around apprenticeships and vocational training. It is fantastic to have speakers from such a prestigious company like BMW attending the event, speaking about a topic that will have a great impact on the manufacturing industry for years to come. UTC Swindon and its facility pay homage to the past, present and future of the manufacturing and engineering industries in Swindon and the theme of the event ties in perfectly with the college.”  

UTC Swindon occupies a £10 million state-of-the-art facility. Part of the original Great Western Rail works, the site links the engineering history with the engineering future of the area. As a partner of UTC Swindon, Monahans hosted UTC Swindon's first business partnership evening at the college.

With 13 partners and a total staff of around 120 across its offices in Bath, Chippenham, Glastonbury, Swindon, Frome and Trowbridge, Monahans is one of the largest independent chartered accountancy groups in the west of England. Monahans works with many clients in the manufacturing sector and recognises the huge importance of manufacturing to the UK economy.

UTC Swindon opened in September 2014, creating a learning environment where engineering and innovation will flourish. It caters for 600 students, aged 14 to 19, interested in pursuing a career in engineering.