Welcome to our 2026 Engineering Cohort!
This autumn we’re delighted to welcome a new group of apprentices through the doors of the BEMA Training Centre in Yate as they begin their engineering apprenticeships with Swatpro and BEMA.
Starting an apprenticeship is a big step. Over the coming months and years, our new starters will combine hands-on workshop training with real experience on the job at their employers, building the practical skills and qualifications that the engineering sector across the South West depends on.
They’re joining a long tradition. BEMA was founded in Bristol in 1936 and began supporting apprenticeships as far back as 1944. Today we’re the largest engineering trade association in the South West, and we run our own training centre so our member companies can recruit and develop the skilled engineers they need. Since 2019 we’ve worked in partnership with Swatpro, a not-for-profit training provider that delivers apprenticeships across the region, so our apprentices benefit from both workshop expertise and strong learner support.
To our new apprentices: we’re proud to support your journey. Ask questions, make the most of the workshop, and lean on your tutors, your employers and each other.
We look forward to watching you develop your skills, grow in confidence and flourish in your engineering careers.
A warm welcome too to the employers who’ve chosen to invest in the next generation of engineers. Thank you.
Interested in an engineering apprenticeship or taking on an apprentice? Find out more at bema.co.uk and swatpro.org.uk.