<p>The rapidly growing aviation sector in India is encountering a shortage of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs), with significant career hurdles faced by aviation technicians.</p>
<p>In a recent discussion with The Economic Times, our Vice President and Business Head, Dhriti Prasanna Mahanta, emphasized that degree apprenticeships could transform the industry. These programs combine hands-on training with academic coursework, providing AME technicians a route to formal qualifications and fostering a more skilled and capable workforce.</p>
<p>The demand for women apprentices in the manufacturing sector has surged nearly six-fold, signaling a significant shift towards gender diversity. Traditionally, the industry had low female participation rates of 10-15%. However, there is now a transformative move towards gender balance. Employers in the pharmaceuticals, food processing, and medical devices industries are at the forefront of this change, with women apprentices now making up 45-50% of new recruits.</p>
<p>Our Chief Strategy Officer, Sumit Kumar, highlights that Degree Apprenticeship programs are proving vital, particularly in empowering women from rural and marginalized communities to pursue higher education and achieve financial independence.</p>
<p>During his recent interview with the Financial Express, our CEO, AR Ramesh, discussed the increasing demand for apprenticeships. Ramesh noted that this demand has been growing at a rate of 35-40% annually, with the automotive, electronics, and ITeS industries emerging as the largest employers of apprentices in FY24.</p>
<p>He emphasized that apprenticeships serve as a tool for enhancing workforce diversity, highlighting a significant rise in the number of women apprentices over the past six years.</p>
<p>Ramesh also pointed out that in 2019, the number of women apprentices, which stood at approximately 7,200, surged to nearly 2,00,000 by FY24.</p>
<p>In a recent discussion with Financial Express, our CEO, Ramesh Alluri Reddy, shed light on the growing significance of apprenticeships in India. He noted a remarkable annual growth rate of 35-40% in employer engagement with apprentices. The automotive, electronics, and ITeS sectors are leading the way as major employers of apprentices for FY24.</p>
<p>Moreover, apprenticeships have emerged as a crucial driver for enhancing workforce diversity. Ramesh highlighted a substantial increase in female apprentices over the past six years, with their numbers soaring from 7,228 in FY19 to a remarkable 193,630 in FY24.</p>
<p>Our Chief Strategy Officer, Sumit Kumar, was selected as a panelist for the 'Tech in Manufacturing Summit 2024,' hosted by the Times Group.</p>
<p>During the panel discussion on ‘Empowering the Workforce: Skills, Training, and Talent Development in the Age of Automation,’ Sumit provided key perspectives on integrating human resources with emerging technologies. He stressed the significance of upskilling and reskilling the existing workforce and outlined crucial talent development strategies for building a skilled, future-ready team.</p>
<p>India is experiencing a substantial shortage of blue-collar workers, with a major segment of the workforce lacking the skills required to meet rising demands and boost productivity. For instance, among the 71 million workers in the construction industry, only 4.4 million are considered core skilled employees, and an additional 6.9 million have vocational training.</p>
<p>In a recent BusinessLine article, our Chief Strategy Officer, Sumit Kumar, pointed out that individuals who enroll in construction-related educational programs often struggle to close the skill gap, which further intensifies the problem.</p>
<p>Our CEO, Ramesh Alluri Reddy, recently visited PepsiCo India’s manufacturing plant in Kolkata, where he had the opportunity to interact with their enthusiastic apprentices. It was inspiring to see the energy and potential they bring to their roles.</p>
<p>Apprenticeship programs play a crucial role in connecting education with industry needs. These programs not only equip young people for future careers but also strengthen industries by providing them with a skilled workforce.</p>
<p>As dedicated facilitators of apprenticeship programs, we take pride in supporting businesses in building a robust talent pipeline and boosting the employability of emerging professionals. Together, we are creating a future-ready workforce, prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow with skill and assurance.</p>
<p>One of the major obstacles India faces is enhancing employability among its youth. Currently, only 45% of trained individuals are deemed employable, and a mere 4.69% of the workforce has received vocational training.</p>
<p>Degree apprenticeship programs provide a flexible learning model, enabling individuals to gain hands-on experience and earn as they learn, thus integrating qualification with practical skills.</p>
<p>In a recent discussion with ThePrint, our Vice Chairman, Mr. Manish Sabharwal, outlines the five essential strategies India must adopt to cultivate a skilled workforce and highlights how degree apprenticeships can play a crucial role.</p>
<p>Ramesh Alluri Reddy, our CEO, was honored to serve as a panelist at this year's 'Future Work Confluence' hosted by NASSCOM. He contributed his expert perspectives on the engaging discussion titled: "Talent Abundant in India: Are we Developing them?</p>
<p>The Telecom industry has seen a remarkable 37% increase in apprenticeship adoption over the last two years.</p>
<p>In a recent discussion with The Economic Times, Sumit Kumar, our Chief Strategy Officer, emphasized the growing trend of skill development programs within the sector. He observed notable growth in apprentice positions, such as telecom tower technicians, in-store promoters, and network engineers.</p>
