Issuu

Department Newsletter

Spring

2025 / castleford.ac.uk

Dear [student name],

Dear student,

Greetings from Castleford College’s Automotive & Engineering Department!

I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter, an exciting new publication designed to keep you informed and engaged with the latest happenings, developments and opportunities in our amazing department.

As the head of the department, I am continually inspired by the passion and innovation that our students and staff bring to the world of automotive and engineering. This newsletter is our way of sharing that inspiration with you.

In this edition, you can expect to find a wealth of information. We’ll bring you the latest news from our department, keeping you up-to-date with current trends and departmental achievements. It’s an excellent way for you to stay connected and informed about the field you are about to enter when you join us this September.

We also believe in the power of real stories to inspire and guide. That’s why we will be featuring student case studies, showcasing the journeys, challenges and successes of our students. These stories not only highlight the real-world application of our courses but also serve as a testament to the supportive and innovative environment that Castleford College offers.

Additionally, we understand the importance of experiencing the environment where you will learn and grow. Therefore, our newsletter includes extra-curricular activities that happen in and around College.

We hope this gives you a lot to look forward to for September and we can’t wait to welcome you to the College –good luck in your exams!

Greg Clark Head of Automotive & Engineering

Student gives back to his former College

A former Motor Vehicle student from Castleford College has gifted a range of Engines to the College’s Automotive department, helping to enhance students’ learning.

Since leaving College, Arron has set up his own successful online distribution company, which supplies motorcycles and parts into the minibike race market.

Ahead of the Christmas break, Arron visited the department to present staff and students with the Engines.

After leaving College, Arron worked in a wide range of service centres throughout the country ranging from working on Aston Martins and Jaguars to working with one of the UK’s largest car supermarkets.

With a love for motorbike and mini-bike racing and Arron set up Parker Racing after identifying a gap in the market of the distribution of motorcycle parts.

As the main UK distributor of BUCCI MOTO, a world leading Italian manufacturer of Pit Bikes and Mini GP Motorcycles, Parker Racing is known for providing high-quality motorcycles to the mini bike racing market.

Arron works closely with his customers to develop tailor-made training motorcycles to professionals within the racing sport, such as Kyle Ryde who most recently won the British Superbike Championship 2024. His business also offers trackside support services to competitors at racing events alongside running his own race team.

Arron said: “I’ve always had a passion for motorbikes, so I enjoyed the hands-on nature of the courses at Castleford College. My tutor Ian ensured I was fully engaged in my learning, which helped me to build my mechanical, management and personal skills. This gave me a solid foundation when starting my career in the industry and are skills I still use to this day as a business owner in the sector. It’s amazing to see the growth of the company over the past ten years and I’m always looking for ways to keep expanding, including investing in my IT skills to build a company website and purchasing CNC machines to develop my own products.”

Learn more about Parker Racing, at: www.parkerracing.co.uk

“We really appreciate Arron’s generous donation which will enable our students to practice on industry-standard equipment, enhancing their quality of learning. As his former tutor, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how far Arron has come since leaving College, setting up his own successful motorcycle distribution business which works with some of the biggest motorcycle brands and racers across the industry. What’s even more humbling is that he wants to share this success by giving back to his former College.”

Ian Smith Lecturer in Engineering & Automotive Studies

at Castleford College

Hear from our Students

Automotive Engineering

Jacob

“I chose to do the Level 2 Diploma in Body and Paint as the course interested me. I like the practical approach to the course; we have learnt how to remove and refit car parts, paint vehicle body panels and how to weld metal. We also went on a trip to DENSO in Barnsley and it was a good insight into the business. After finishing College, I want to join the Army as a Mechanic and continue my career into different specialisms.”

ExtraCurricular Activities

Restart a Heart

Staff and students from across the College learned how to restart a heart as part of Restart a Heart Day in Yorkshire.

Thank you to Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust staff and volunteers who have enabled them to become CPR confident.

Ethan

“I chose to study at Castleford College because the tutors were enthusiastic about helping me follow my passion. They’ve taught me skills that I use daily at home and at the railway I volunteer at. I hope to one day work in mechatronics on railways.”

Work Placements

It is important that our students learn the operations of businesses within their chosen sector first-hand. We understand the value of employer contributions and the positive impact these have on young people. All our students complete week-long placements in the industry in which they

are studying whilst our T Level students complete longer industry placements, spending 20% of their qualification in the workplace.

Hear how T Level Engineering student Harris’ industry placement led him to a career at Drax:

Christmas Fair

Valentine’s Activities

Scan the QR code to watch

Our Activities Team gave students a chance to win a valentines hamper full of goodies and lots of runner up prizes during Valentine’s Week.

Biffa donates kit to Castleford

College’s Automotive students

Biffa donates to Castleford College’s

Castleford College’s students have from a equipment donation from one the companies, Biffa.

Castleford College’s Automotive students have benefited from a generous equipment donation from one of the UK’s leading sustainable waste management companies, Biffa.

Chris Richard from Biffa visited the College’s Automotive Department donate the DAF which previously to empty on the

Chris Williams and Richard Hoyland from Biffa recently visited the College’s Automotive Department to donate the DAF LV truck, which was previously used to empty bins on the A1’s laybys.

The addition of the the Department’s fleet of Heavy Vehicles Large (LGV), that can train on equipment is out field.

The addition of the truck to the Department’s extensive fleet of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) and Large Good Vehicles (LGV), ensures that its learners can train on industry-standard equipment which is used out in the field.

WorldSkills

WorldSkills UK

Biffa two Castleford College’s Level HGV Apprentices, and Nathan, who progressing through their three-year programmes.

Biffa currently employs two of Castleford College’s Level 3 HGV Apprentices, Bailey and Nathan, who are progressing through their three-year programmes.

Richard Hoyland, Biffa Regional Fleet Manager for Yorkshire and East Midlands, said “We’re great advocates of apprenticeships at Biffa and are continuously looking for ways to support apprentices coming through the industry. We hope that the donation of the DAF LV truck will enhance Bailey, Nathan and other apprentices’ learning, enabling them to practice and further develop their service and maintenance knowledge.”

Richard Fleet Manager for Yorkshire and , “We’re great advocates apprenticeships at Biffa and are looking for to support apprentices coming through the industry. We the of DAF truck will enhance and other enabling practice further their service maintenance knowledge.”

SkillsWeld Qualifiers held at Castleford College

SkillsWeld Qualifiers held College

We held the WorldSkills UK’s SkillsWeld 2024 National Qualifiers at our College Welding apprentices incredible talents.

We held the WorldSkills UK’s SkillsWeld 2024 National Qualifiers at our College where our Fabrication & Welding apprentices showed off their incredible talents.

The apprentices main types of welding processes arc welding, welding and metal inert Benjamin Mace, Harry Walshaw, Wigglesworth, Paisley Mitchell and Oscar Emery, who and Humberside in the competition.

The apprentices completed four separate tests covering the three main types of welding processes - gas tungsten arc welding, stick welding and metal inert gas welding. This included apprentices Benjamin Mace, Dale Robinson, Harry Walshaw, Joshua Curtis, Korey Wigglesworth, Paisley Mitchell and Oscar Emery, who represented Yorkshire and Humberside in the competition.

After fierce competition, Oscar placed and Joshua third.

After a fierce competition, Oscar placed first, with Kalum placing second and Joshua third.

Greg Head of and Automotive Heart Yorkshire Education Group said: such are incredibly valuable our and are in helping train the mechanics of the future. will enable and learners hone their when it comes to inspecting repairing HGVs, which prepare for a the industry.”

Greg Clark, Head of Engineering and Automotive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group said: “Donations such as these are incredibly valuable to our department and are vital in helping to train the mechanics of the future. This will enable our apprentices and learners to hone their skills when it comes to inspecting and repairing HGVs, which will prepare them for a range of roles in the industry.”

Students inspired by climate change action conference

inspired change conference

recently attended University Huddersfield’s Sustainable Futures Conference inspired with climate change students had chance to get in workshops,

harvesting and green energyapply sustainable concepts in

Engineering students recently attended the University of Huddersfield’s Sustainable Futures Conference where they were left inspired with possibilities for solving climate change issues. The students had the chance to get hands-on in workshops, covering topics such as sustainable structures, energy harvesting and green fuel and green energydemonstrating how to apply sustainable concepts in real-world scenarios.

Automotive & students’ accomplishments at Annual Awards Ceremony

Automotive & Engineering students’ accomplishments celebrated at Annual Awards Ceremony

The hard work and achievements of our Automotive & Engineering students were recognised as part of an Annual Student Awards Ceremony.

work and Automotive & recognised as part of Ceremony.

Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “Our students have demonstrated exceptional growth, commitment and excellence towards their learning, so it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate these remarkable achievements alongside their loved ones, staff across the Group and our

Wright, Principal Chief Executive at the of Yorkshire , students have demonstrated towards their learning, so able to celebrate these remarkable achievements alongside and our

employer partners. Many of our student winners have now moved on to some of the UK’s top universities, employment or higher levels of study with us here at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, highlighting their significant development and progression.”

employer partners. student on to some of UK’s top universities, employment higher levels of study with us here at of Yorkshire Education highlighting their development

Jeffrey Utley MBE from the IET presented the Engineering Prize for Student Excellence to Luke Ayr from Castleford College, who was praised for his exceptional academic performance and critical thinking skills.

IET presented Engineering Prize Student Excellence Ayr from exceptional academic performance critical thinking skills.

Richard Hoyland (left), apprentices Nathan and Bailey and Chris Williams (right)

Richard (left), apprentices Nathan and (right)

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