Metal recyclers urged to show support for sector-specific apprenticeship

Metal Recycling News  |  2026-08-05 00:02:25   |   By

Antonia Grey, who leads on the BMRA’s apprenticeship work, said that the MRGO was open to all metal recycling businesses working across England as a cost-effective means of developing workforce capabilities.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  UK-based metal recyclers are being urged to lend their support to a sector-specific apprenticeship in England amidst feats over its future due to limited uptake.

The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) said that a minimum of 25 new annual learners were needed to undertake the Metal Recycling General Operative (MRGO) apprenticeship that was launched in 2018 to drive skills development in the industry.

According to the trade body, Skills England is set to retire the standard as a result of recent low uptake.    The BMRA added: “Without sufficient employer commitment, the sector risks losing its only recycling-specific apprenticeship.”

Skills England said it was now looking for feedback up until 1 September this year over proposals to retire the apprenticeship for new starter,s before taking a decision on the matter.

The MRGO is open for all companies in the sector, regardless of whether they are a BMRA members, and was developed to offer skills training and education around working safely and effectively in metal recycling operations.

Some of the training covered in the apprenticeship includes work to improv staff understanding about the process of recycling metals and assessing site risk, while ensuring regulatory compliance and good environmental practice, said the BMRA.

The trade body added that practical training was focused on managing plants and equipment such as shears and cable strippers, with health and safety also counted as a learning priority.

Apprentices undertaking the MRGO are also offered an opportunity to build skills in one of five specialist areas that includes managing end of life vehicles (ELVs).  Some of the other specialisms offered as part of the training include weighbridge operations, material handling with specialist equipment, or dealing with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

Apprentices can choose alternatively to specialise in material classification.

Cost argument

In raising concerns about the lack of uptake for the MRGO, the BMRA has argued that apprenticeships offer an affordable way to help address industry concerns on training and retaining skilled workforces in the sector.

It argued that the initiative had important costs benefits for smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SME) that allowed to train an operative starting from around £450.

The costs were made possible under the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme that sees authorities covering around 95% of the costs of training apprentices.  The scheme is funded by employers with annual payrolls of over £3m.

Antonia Grey, who leads on the BMRA’s apprenticeship work, said that the MRGO was open to all metal recycling businesses working across England as a cost-effective means of developing workforce capabilities.

She said: “Combined with the five specialist pathways, it offers valuable training opportunities for every type of metal recycling operation. The future of the MRGO apprenticeship depends on industry support, and we are asking metal recyclers to act now and help secure the future of the metals recycling industry’s only dedicated apprenticeship programme.”

The BMRA told MRW that it was supportive of Government commitments and pledges to expand the number of vocational training routes available.

However, it argued about the need for ensuring that apprenticeships programmes such as the MRGO were retained to support workplace development and recruitment for individuals between 18 and 60 years of age.

Courtesy: www.mrw.co.uk