President encourages engineering students in the Eastern Region

On his first visit to the Eastern Region, the President of the Institution saw how local training institutions are helping address skills shortages in engineering.

President of the Institution, Group Captain Mark Hunt, visited two key training institutions on 19 September 2014, to provide encouragement to students and apprentices studying engineering.

He also presented Cambridge Regional College (CRC) Principal Anne Constantine with a certificate to mark the college's achievement of EngTech Approved status. He finished his day at the Annual Dinner for the Eastern Region.

Mark was accompanied by Sylvain Jamais CEng FIMechE MCMI, Chairman of the Eastern Region; Lara Mallett, Business Development Manager Eastern Region and Paul Tabern, Business Development Manager UK EngTech.

Their first stop was the University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN) for 14 to 18 years olds, which has just opened in purpose-built facilities and has a strong focus on engineering and STEM subjects.

The college has been liaising with local employers, particularly those in the wind and offshore sectors, to ensure their courses are relevant to industry. Addressing young students the President described his enduring passion for engineering, and challenged them to be ambitious for success. Alex Hayes, Principal of UTCN, said that the students had been given an “inspiring speech".

Cambridge Regional College (CRC) has recently achieved EngTech Approved status, which mean that its apprentices will have a streamlined route for EngTech approval. The President presented a certificate to CRC Principal Anne Constantine to mark this achievement, and was shown the recently upgraded engineering facilities. CRC has strong links with more than 200 local companies, making it an excellent place for apprentices to start their engineering careers.


Mark Hunt presents a certificate to CRC Principal Anne Constantine.

The President explained the importance of engineering to the apprentices: “The world is a monochrome place – it is two dimensional. Engineering brings the world into colour and makes it three dimensional.”

He went on: “I am really impressed with the facilities at Cambridge Regional College, it is a 21st century learning space. You’ve got the balance of academic and practical skills absolutely right. It is really great to see and makes you want to learn. It’s a great opportunity to remind the students how lucky they are and that all the hard work they are doing now will really pay dividends in the future.”


Mark Hunt meets CRC Engineering Apprentice, Connor Brokenshire.

Alan Ward, Head of Engineering at CRC said: “I am delighted that the Institution has recognised the college’s excellent newly refurbished Engineering facilities as being one of the best it has seen. This prestigious award and approval to the 'Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Scheme' means that our learners can now become members of the Institution and enjoy the many benefits it has to offer.”

The final stop of the day was the Eastern Region Annual Dinner. The keynote speaker, Professor Helen Atkinson CBE FIMechE, from the University of Leicester, highlighted the skills shortages being faced by so many companies in the UK, and particularly the Eastern region. She drew attention to the fact that of the 10,000 British students graduating with engineering degrees only 38% ended up in engineering jobs.

In reply, Mark Hunt, the President of the Institution, stressed the value of apprenticeships in providing an alternative to university and the importance of promoting and encouraging students into an engineering career.