With new facilities and excellent links to the Institution, Lowestoft College is a leading centre for technicians and vocational engineering students.
Lowestoft College was one of the first colleges in the UK Eastern Region to have its EngTech scheme approved by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the two bodies enjoy a fruitful relationship as the college progresses new technicians on their path into professional engineering.
Skills Minister Matthew Hancock visited Lowestoft College in February, touring the engineering and maritime facilities; speaking with engineering apprentices and watching them at work in the recently upgraded workshop, which now boasts state-of-the-art training facilities.
Simon Summers, Principal of the college, said the minister’s visit was very valuable: “By talking to apprentices and students he was able to gain a good insight into the issues facing them and see just how committed they are to their studies.” He added: “The visit was also an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the range of courses we offer, including those which support our key local maritime, offshore and energy industries.”
It’s been a busy time for the welcoming committee at Lowestoft. No sooner had the minister enjoyed his lightning tour of the facilities, than the Institution’s Business Development Manager for the Eastern Region, Paul Tabern, dropped in. Based in Norwich, Paul’s role across the region is to develop the Institution’s relationship with the local engineering community through encouraging professional registration, be it with individuals, sixth-form and further education colleges, companies and universities. He promotes the benefits of membership; for affiliates, EngTechs, and those who might want to upgrade their professional registration, too.
Paul explains: “The main thrust of my day at Lowestoft was to sign up the latest cohort of learners, who are studying on approved courses on the EngTech scheme, and talk to them about the Institution: what it is, what it does, and what benefits it can offer them through professional registration. I try to indicate what it can do for them when they successfully complete the courses they are on, and how they can embrace professional registration as an engineering technician. It’s great to recruit affiliate members, many of whom look to migrate to full professional status as well.”
“Lowestoft College has very good links with local industry,” he continues. “I talked to a range of apprentices, whether in the purely vocational learning phase or out in industry and on college day-release. I also felt the facilities were looking great: the new study area, where we held our presentation, looks fantastic, and the students are clearly proud of it.”
Ferlin Quantrill, Curriculum Manager, Engineering, is also a member of the Institution and he talks about the positive impact that visits such as Paul’s, and wider links, have at the college.
“We are very pleased to work with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. It gives our learners access to the technical library as well as to the very informative publications that are produced. We actively encourage our learners to work towards professional registration and recognition of their professional skills, and visits to us by the Institution have greatly increased their knowledge of such things.”
Paul does valuable and targeted work, in an environment where there are few large companies with correspondingly large apprenticeship schemes. He explains: “Around Lowestoft there aren’t that many big employers. Lowestoft College is mainly linked with local SMEs, so we are working with small numbers of apprentices per company.”
He emphasises the importance of engagement with the apprentice and technician community: “We would really like to develop the links between local members of the Institution and the college network.”
“If we take the university model: we have numerous excellent relationships, and many graduates go on to join bodies such as the Young Member Panels and remain engaged with development of the Institution’s work. Now we would like to build up the profile of the colleges: regional committees could benefit from more representation from apprentices, and from current and potential EngTechs, as well. We would like members from local industry to engage with their nearby colleges. It’s important to ensure that we set up lots of local and relevant events for technicians and apprentices, as well as for those people who are working towards becoming Incorporated or Chartered Engineers.”
Paul concludes: “We hope that more people who are passionate about engineering, and keen to engage upcoming technicians and engineers in their communities, will find ways to get involved this year.”
For more information about support for apprentices and Engineering Technicians:
http://www.imeche.org/membership/professional-development/Support-for-apprentices