Two respected West Midlands based private training providers Lean Engineering and Manufacturing Academy (LEMA) and Lean Education and Development Ltd (LEAD) have merged.
This merger brings together the complementary specialisms and strengths of both organisations, to create a single institution offering comprehensive vocational education and training from pre-employability programmes through to degree apprenticeship.
For nearly a decade Lean Engineering and Manufacturing Academy (LEMA) has worked with hundreds of manufacturing and engineering employers across the West Midlands and supported thousands of young people to develop high quality engineering and manufacturing skills.
Lean Education and Development Limited (LEAD) are one of the UK’s largest and most successful providers of Continuous Improvement work related vocational training.
The vision for the newly merged organisations is to become a beacon of vocational excellence, striving to create a vibrant and high-performing training provider that will bring a comprehensive offering to the region’s employers.
The combined offering of both organisations will enable manufacturing and engineering firms in the region looking to future proof their workforce to benefit from a free recruitment and selection service for Apprenticeships, tailored and bespoke training specialist short courses, pre-recruitment training packages and an Apprenticeship-Levy advice service.
Sanjeev Ohri, Chief Officer Business Development and Strategic Partnerships comments: “LEMA believes this merger offers a unique opportunity to bring together two organisations to enhance the quality and choice of programmes for its employers and learners.
“Employers can expect to see a single institution primed to help them tackle skills gaps and boost business productivity. We’ll be offering an increased range of apprenticeships pathways, bespoke professional qualifications and access to short, dedicated programmes, all in addition to the usual assistance needed to boost their business in challenging times”.
Local employers will have the opportunity to influence the curriculum offer across the two organisations, thus supporting the future workforce and economy. In addition to this, LEMA are welcoming contact from employers that would be interested in discussing in depth strategic links, such as enabling LEMA students to train on or have access to employer equipment and machinery.
The organisation also aims to provide an end-to-end offer to learners from the ages of 16 upwards.
Ohri continues: “Our enhanced learner offering will include a choice of high-quality courses including professional and vocational programmes, Apprenticeships, access to industry-standard and specialist resources across two campuses and progression pathways from Entry/level 1 to Level 6”.
The merger of the two private training providers will support financial stability, enable growth and development, and will ensure the new organisation is both sustainable and adaptable.
The character and strengths of each of the organisations will be carried forward into the new organisation, with the eventual aim of bringing together two individual sites into one Centre based in Dudley.
The merger follows an extremely positive start to 2021 for LEMA, who have recorded over 60 Apprentice starts between January and April, spread across a wide range of local employers.