Apprentice's 5,000-mile trip to become a training master

Published on 25, March, 2025

An apprentice at the University of Sunderland took a trip of a lifetime to become a training master.

Steve Simm, who studies on the Learning and Skills Teacher (LST) Apprenticeship at the University, travelled over 5,500 miles to Japan to be certified as an Overseas Monozukuri Education Master Trainer for Unipres.

Receiving this accreditation means that Steve will be able to deliver in-house Japanese-style training in the UK, enhancing the teaching he already delivers through a range of level 2 apprenticeships at the Unipres Training Academy.

Steve said: “This trip to Japan was fantastic. Over the four-day training course, I’ve been able to enrich my own professional development which now enables me to incorporate Japanese-style teaching into the training academy here in the UK.

“While on this trip, I also had the chance to visit various plants, meet colleagues and got to see parts of Japan that I would never have seen even as a tourist. It’s an experience I won’t forget.”

The LST Level 5 apprenticeship gives learners like Steve a chance to develop and apply the knowledge that they learn at the University to enhance the training programmes of their organisations.

Steve added: “The training I have received through the University of Sunderland has been first-rate. It’s given me the chance to study the theory of teaching which has helped how my team and I deliver training to colleagues across Unipres.

“It’s all came at such a great time, as everything that I have done with the University has lined up with the goals of what we are doing at the training academy.”

Unipres (UK) Ltd is a manufacturer of press-formed automotive components who are committed to creating employment opportunities who opened their Training Academy in 2017.

Rob Dodds, Controller of the Unipres Training Academy, said: “Steve has been fantastic since he started on the apprenticeship with the University of Sunderland.

"He has brought new ideas and focus into the Academy which has benefitted all the learners and also other tutors, myself included, who are learning from him as well.

“Sakamoto San, our Japanese Master Trainer from our Sagami Plant in Japan, was so impressed with Steve on a recent visit that he invited Steve to Japan to undertake the Monozukuri training.

“With the education that Steve has been undertaking with the University of Sunderland, he was able to pass and become an Overseas Master Trainer, the first Monozukuri Master Trainer outside of Japan.”

The University offers a range of advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships programmes to provide learners the skills to enhance their careers and organisations.

Reece Sohdi, Lecturer and Programme leader for the Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship at the University, said: “The LST apprenticeship at the University really helps educators, whether they're teaching or training, to develop skills that go beyond their day-to-day role.

“Not only do we talk about innovative, engaging and theory-informed teaching practice, but apprentices get the opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other through regular sessions, assignments and develop a support network outside of the apprenticeship.

“I’ve seen growth in our apprentices including with their confidence and I’ve witnessed a development in the kind of support they deliver for their own learners.

“This helps support apprentices to be experts in their field and can lead to professional development opportunities in their role like Steve or even can lead to promotions.”

If you are interested in the University of Sunderland’s LST apprenticeship, find out more at our information event here.

If you are a prospective apprentice or an employer who wants to find out more about our apprenticeships, register your interest here.

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