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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.

UTC Warrington is running a series of virtual open events this month for young people interested in careers in engineering, digital, construction and healthcare.

A technical school for 14 to 19-year-olds, the UTC is backed by employers and Manchester Metropolitan University and is Ofsted graded ‘good’.

Based on Dallam Lane, the £10 million UTC has industry leading facilities and specialises in engineering, digital, construction and healthcare.

Students work on employer led projects, and complete technical qualifications alongside GCSEs and A Levels, giving them a head start on their career ambitions.

Amanda Downing, Associate Principal of UTC Warrington, said: “We are proud to work with the region’s top employers to offer the highly sought-after technical skills they need and that provide our students with great career prospects.”

Young people, and their parents and carers, can find out more about Year 10 and Year 12 places for September 2021 by attending four virtual open events on:

• Monday, November 16th from 5.30pm to 6.30pm for engineering.
• Tuesday, November 17th at 5.30pm to 6.30pm for construction.
• Wednesday, November 18th at 5.30pm to 6.30pm for digital.
• Thursday, November 19th at 5.30pm to 6.30pm for healthcare.

Guests will hear from curriculum staff, students, alumni and employers. To book your place, please visit https://utcw.co.uk/events/.

The UTC’s Class of 2020 have progressed onto a range of positive destinations including university, apprenticeships and employment including BMW, Boeing, Cavendish Nuclear, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Bangor, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Exeter and the University of Salford.

Alumnus Adam Bellis has gone onto the University of Salford to study a Degree in Cyber Security after achieving strong technical results this summer.

Adam said: “I moved to the UTC because it was a better environment for me to learn in. There were smaller class sizes and more specialised learning.”

He added: “The UTC has prepared me well for university with the different styles of learning – both practical and written – and I’ve been able to develop key skills such as problem solving, which is a big part of my degree.”

To anyone else thinking of studying at UTC Warrington, Adam said: “I think the UTC is really good. If you want to learn and push yourself, then you should go.”

UTCs are government funded technical schools that provide technical learning opportunities in partnership with employers and universities.

Young people can join UTC Warrington in Year 10 or Year 12. Apply now for September 2021. Visit https://utcw.co.uk/ or call 01925 737067.

UTC Warrington – which is Ofsted graded ‘good’ – is a technical academy for 14 to 19-year-olds specialising in engineering, digital and construction, with healthcare starting in September 2021. Now the UTC has won an award for being the Best Engineering and Technology Educational Institution in the North West of England.

Corporate Vision Magazine recognises organisations for excelling within their field and publishes monthly on their digital platform, delivering features within the business and education sectors.

The Magazine recently hosted the Education and Training Awards 2020; prestigious awards open to education organisations, schools and training centres. Winners were awarded on merit, by a panel of five individuals who conducted research into each entry.

UTC Warrington was shortlisted for the Best Engineering & Technology Educational Institution – North West England, and successfully went on to win the Award. The UTC was nominated for their high standard of teaching, STEM subjects and specialist facilities.

Associate Principal, Amanda Downing, said, “We are delighted to have won this recognition. UTC Warrington offers a unique opportunity for students aged 14-19 to combine technical and academic education working with employers in state-of-the-art facilities. This Award reflects the hard work of our staff and students to make the UTC exceptional.”

For more information on UTC Warrington, download the latest copies of the prospectus for entry in Year 10 and Year 12 and visit our website to register for one of our virtual open events:

https://utcw.co.uk/events/

18-year-old Adam Bellis is celebrating achieving a place at University of Salford to study a degree in Cyber Security after his great BTEC results.

Adam achieved Distinction, Merit, Merit in BTEC Applied Science. He said: “I feel really relieved about my results because I got what I needed to get into my top choice and I’m really happy.”

As well as his interest in Computing, Adam also played badminton alongside his studies at the UTC. Talking of the UTC he said: “I moved to the UTC because it was a better environment for me to learn in. There were smaller class sizes and more specialised learning.”

He is looking forward to starting at University of Salford in September: “I’m really excited to go to university and to start my course. The UTC has prepared me well for it with the different styles of learning – both practical and written – and I’ve been able to develop key skills such as practising problem solving which is a big part of my degree.”

To anyone else thinking of studying at the UTC, Adam said: “I think the UTC is really good. If you want to learn and push yourself then you should go.”

Nikola Nakrewicz is looking forward to continuing her studies at the UTC in September after achieving an 8 in Art, a 7 in Maths and Merit in Engineering Design and Manufacture.

Talking about her results, she said: “I’m really pleased with my results. I moved to he UTC in Year 9 and it was the best choice I’ve made. I liked the smaller classroom sizes and the subject choices because I thought it was an appropriate place to study for the career I want to go into.

In the future, Nikola would like to be a nurse: “I want to be a nurse, and the science teachers at the UTC have really helped me and given me support and extra help when needed. My previous school didn’t offer the specialisms so I decided to move.”

Nikola thinks going to the UTC has improved her grades. She said: “I’m really pleased with the results I’ve got today. The teachers are really good and they’ve pushed me further than I thought was possible. I think if I went to a more conventional school I would have got a lower grade and I wouldn’t have improved as much.”

Nikola found the staff at the UTC really helpful: “I really loved the staff. If you ever needed support with anything you could talk to them. The smaller class sizes allowed you to get a more personalised education and we were able to use state-of the art equipment which I wouldn’t have had access to at my old school.

“We got to use lathes, welders, and cast molten metal. These opportunities I wouldn’t have got outside the UTC.”

The trips were something Nikola enjoyed too. She said: “I liked doing all the extracurricular parts of the UTC too. We got to go on lots of trips to see universities, employer partners and career fayres.

“We worked with Land Rover, testing fair ground toys in one of our projects which was really exciting. You don’t get opportunities like that at your typical school.”

Nikola is excited to start sixth form at the UTC in September: “I’m staying at the UTC to study applied science and Art. After sixth form I’d like to get an apprenticeship in the NHS to do either Nursing or Midwifery. I’m really excited to go back to the UTC in September. I’m looking forward to be doing tasks and having support with all my work and getting better and being the best I can.”

To anyone thinking of joining the UTC, Nikola said: “If you’re thinking of joining the UTC in Year 9 you should go for it. Everyone is lovely and it’s given me a whole range of different experiences. My old school told me not to move, but I decided to move and I am so glad because it is a much better choice for me.”

16-year-old Callum joined the UTC in Year 9 to study his GCSEs in Triple Science, Maths, Business Studies and IT. He is looking forward to new opportunities continuing studying at the UTC in sixth form in September.

He said: “I moved to the UTC for more career opportunities. It also focussed more on subjects I was interested in, so I could do better in those.”

Callum is really pleased with his results. He said: “I got a 5 in Maths, a Merit in Business and 5 in Sciences.” He is awaiting his IT grade.

He said: “I enjoyed that the school offered more subjects to what I’d been able to do at an average school. I really liked being able to specialise in IT. My favourite project was coding Lego robot cars out of robo-technics.”

Callum enjoyed work experience whilst at the UTC: “I did work experience whilst at the UTC with Cavendish Nuclear. We did team building and worked on a presentation about the company in groups.”

Talking about the skills he’s developed, Callum said: “I’ve developed in confidence at the UTC. We’ve worked a lot on speaking at interviews and with people higher up, and we’ve done lots of career prep too. I think I’m more resilient too, having worked on lots of different projects at the UTC.”

Callum has chosen to stay at the UTC for sixth form. He said: “I’m staying at the UTC to study A Level Maths and specialise in Cyber. I’m happy to be staying on and looking forward to studying Cyber most. The UTC work with Fujitsu and I’m excited to be able to work on projects like that with employers. That’s one of the main reasons why I stayed at the UTC.”

The UTC has prepared Callum well for his future: “It’s developed my confidence but also allowed me to experience the workplace and how that works. The UTC has an adult atmosphere too, and you can wear business dress.

“In the future I’d either like to go into an apprenticeship In cyber security or possibly university.”

To anyone thinking of joining the UTC, Callum would say: “To someone thinking of joining the UTC in Y9 I’d say it’s a good option. It was scary at first but it has opened up so many opportunities. You are all in the same position and you get to meet lots of new people and it’s really worth it. It paid off for me.”

UTC Warrington students are celebrating receiving their GCSE and technical results this week.

UTC Warrington – which is Ofsted graded ‘good’ – is a technical school for 14 to 19-year-olds that specialises in engineering, digital and construction, with healthcare starting in September 2021. At the UTC, students complete technical qualifications and GCSEs.

Lee Barber, Executive Principal of UTC Warrington, said: “I am so proud of our students and staff who have pulled together and shown remarkable resilience this academic year. I’d like to congratulate them on their results and wish them all the very best as they progress to the next stage of their education.”

The UTC equips students with the vital skills that employers and the economy need, enabling them to go onto great careers. The majority of students have chosen to stay on at the UTC for another two years, to further develop their STEM skills and knowledge, so they are well positioned to secure top university places and apprenticeships.

Callum Prescott joined the UTC in Year 9 to study GCSEs in business studies, maths, triple science and IT. He is looking forward to continuing studying at the UTC in sixth form in September.

Callum is really pleased with his results achieving a grade 5 in maths, a merit in business and a grade 5 in sciences. He is awaiting his IT grade. He said: “I really liked being able to specialise in IT. My favourite project was coding Lego robot cars out of robo-technics. I did work experience whilst at the UTC with Cavendish Nuclear. We did team building and worked on a presentation about the company in groups.”

Talking about the skills he’s developed, Callum said: “I’ve developed in confidence at the UTC. We’ve worked a lot on speaking at interviews and with people higher up, and we’ve done lots of career prep too. I think I’m more resilient too, having worked on lots of different projects at the UTC.”

Callum has chosen to stay at the UTC for sixth form. He said: “I’m staying at the UTC to study A Level maths and specialise in cyber. The UTC work with Fujitsu and I’m excited to be able to work on projects like that with employers. That’s one of the main reasons why I stayed at the UTC.”

The UTC has prepared Callum well for his future. He explained: “It’s developed my confidence but also allowed me to experience the workplace. In future, I’d either like to go into an apprenticeship in cyber security or possibly university.”

To anyone thinking of joining the UTC, Callum advised: “I’d say it’s a good option. It was scary at first but it has opened up so many opportunities. You are all in the same position and you get to meet lots of new people and it’s really worth it. It has paid off for me.”

Nikola Nakrewicz has achieved GCSE and technical results including a grade 8 in art, a grade 7 in maths and a merit in her engineering design and manufacture. She said: “I’m really pleased with the results I’ve got. The teachers are really good and they’ve pushed me further than I thought was possible.”

She explained: “I liked doing all the extracurricular parts of the UTC too. We got to go on lots of trips to see universities, employer partners and career fayres. We worked with Jaguar Land Rover, testing fair ground toys in one of our projects, which was really exciting. You don’t get opportunities like that at your typical school.”

After sixth form, Nikola would like to get an apprenticeship in the NHS to do either nursing or midwifery. She said: “I’m really excited to go back to the UTC in September. I’m looking forward to doing tasks, having support with all my work, getting better and being the best I can.”

Students who have completed their sixth form studies this year are going on to a range of destinations including BMW, Boeing, Cavendish Nuclear, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Bangor, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Exeter and the University of Salford.