Colleagues from our Warrington office are working hard to facilitate virtual work experience for a selection of year 12 and 13 students at UTC Warrington, who are working towards a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
As part of our Positive Impact Plan, our mission is to invest in the communities in which we work and live. We want to create a lasting legacy and inspire those who are considering their futures to become an integral part of the construction industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has required us to adapt the way in which we engage with educational institutions. Currently we are working hard to adapt to a more virtual way of working, to minimise the impact on young people’s learning.
Our team has presented a thorough brief, and have tasked students with designing a new dry/wet well wastewater pumping station.
The module will take 12 weeks to complete, requires circa 60 hours of work experience to complete and is set to finish at the end of the year.
The course has so far proved highly successful, and has been accepted by BTEC as a method of completing a mandatory unit of work experience, meaning that the course could be made available to students from across the country, facilitated by colleagues from across the wider business.
The module requires an understanding of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Process, and utilises various software including AutoCAD and NavisWorks Simulate.
Debbie Owen, Faculty Leader of Engineering at UTC Warrington and BTEC Quality Nominee, said: “nmcn have provided our learners with a fantastic opportunity to develop virtual work experience. We are delighted to be part of a scheme that offers a unique, personal and hands-on experience, allowing the students to build lasting key skills.
“The nmcn team are hosting weekly meetings, allowing the students to ask questions and learn from their varied electrical, civil, mechanical and design engineering experience. We look forward to seeing their final designs.”
Jamie Caswell, UTC Warrington student, said: “Whilst taking part in the work experience over the last few weeks, I have improved my business and teamwork skills by talking to experienced Engineers. The module has challenged our perseverance, timekeeping and teamwork, which are all key attributes to take into our future careers.
“During the last few months, it has been difficult to learn and focus on new and interesting work, however, by working with nmcn, we have had a real chance during the lockdown period to continue to gain valuable experience and learn from industry professionals.”
Paul Foden, Contracts Engineer said: “At nmcn, we are committed to delivering exceptional learning opportunities for the next generation, and raising awareness of the diverse STEM-related career opportunities available.
“The process of building a virtual work experience has been a great opportunity to develop our existing relationship with UTC Warrington, and it’s been a pleasure working with Debbie Owen and Engineering Teacher, Nichola Graham.
“It has truly been a team effort, and together, we’ve been able to provide a course that tests the students’ independent learning skills in a creative and supportive learning environment. We are passionate about mentoring and encouraging students to perform to the peak of their abilities, and we are excited about what the outcomes can mean for future collaborations.”
If you would be interested in conducting virtual work experience with nmcn, please contact info@nmcn.com.