Northern Skills Group STEM Newsletter

Apprenticeship and Training Company of Middlesbrough College

EMPLOYERS WE WORK WITH:

THE OFFICIAL STEM NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019 A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Welcome to our STEM Newsletter.

Middlesbrough College is a specialist STEM College providing dedicated support and commitment to developing high quality education for all students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths across Teesside, ensuring that learners receive the best possible STEM education.

Read on to find out more about MC Digital’s new partnership with NextGen, A Level Biology teacher Dr Richard Spencer’s latest national award wins and Swagelok Teesside’s investment in our STEM Centre, plus find out about our students landing their dream careers thanks to their STEM specialist education.

Zoe Lewis, Principal and Chief Executive.

Our facilities replicate typical settings in industry, these include our realistic on-site health and care ward, MC Digital our dedicated technology school with cutting edge software packages, MC6 science laboratories, our sport science facilities and of course our STEM Centre.

As a College we aim to embed work skills into each learner’s education and allow them to experience a real working environment that replicates industry, providing lifelong learning with students accessing training at various levels throughout different points in their careers.

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EXPERTS IN APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINING

STEM COMMITMENT To enhance the region’s economic competitiveness by directly aligning our offer to the skills and requirements of employers.

YOU SAID, WE DID We have expanded our STEM capability and capacity to meet regional economic priorities

We have created an education and training environment that delivers the best in STEM teaching and learning at every stage of lifelong learning

We have taken the lead in the community and wider industries to raise awareness and attract underrepresented groups such as women into STEM related industry and education

We have targeted recruitment of young people interested in STEM subjects

We have innovated new STEM curriculum so that our education and training offer meets both student and employer requirements

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We have met the needs of key growth sectors by increasing intermediate and high skill attainment, particularly in relation to STEM subjects

We have improved progression through up-skilling and reskilling

STEM SPECIALIST COLLEGE

Our STEM Training Centre is the leading provider of technical training, skills, behaviours and competency solutions for a range of engineering industries

We have a realistic on-site health and care ward that replicates a hospital environment

We boast specialised science laboratories in both our main College and Sixth Form Centre

Our large Apple iMac suite includes state of the art computer software

We have creative media workshops and games design studios with the latest 3D design packages and game engines

Sport and exercise science students also have access to a strength and conditioning suite and a physiology lab

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PARTNERSHIP IS NEXT LEVEL FOR DESIGN STUDENTS

STUDENT SUCCESS BRETT MAYNARD

Middlesbrough College has its own technical digital school. MC Digital is committed to training students with the fundamental technical knowledge so that they can tackle real world problems and get the skills employers want.

Middlesbrough College is just one of 14 in the country to be a NextGen partner, and will now offer a cutting edge course for learners hungry for a career in the games design, animation and visual effects industries. Students will also benefit from a substantial investment in digital equipment across the College’s dedicated creative media suites, including new virtual reality capabilities and top of the range editing computers.

A new partnership means that MC Digital has become part of the NextGen Skills Academy – a ground-breaking scheme that matches creative industry employers with educators.

NextGen’s industry-led approach means students leave College ready for the workplace or a higher apprenticeship or degree programme.

MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE TUTORS ENGINEER SUCCESS FOR DURHAM UNIVERSITY’S BRIGHTEST!

spent a week gaining essential competencies on a range of activities at Middlesbrough College’s state-of-the-art STEM Centre.

Course: FD Games Design “Our tutors have excellent links with employers and set up work experience opportunities, sometimes even paid work experience! It’s great to work with companies as it will be a lot easier to find work in the industry once I have graduated.”

ADAM JUMA

Adam Juma, a father of four, came to the UK from Sudan and started a cleaning job at Middlesbrough College to support his family. And now hard-working Adam has landed a sought-after job at Newton Aycliffebased conveyor system manufacturer Advanced Automation after completing a string of motor vehicle and engineering qualifications with Middlesbrough College.

Adam said “It’s a fantastic feeling to have got this far and landed a great job. The best part is my family are so proud of me. My wife supported me and my kids look up to their dad – the two eldest now want to go to university too. I can’t thank the staff at Middlesbrough College enough, particularly Ian Moore who believed in me the whole way and inspired me to reach my potential.”

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Middlesbrough College taught more than 200 Durham University students a thing or two thanks to a unique engineering programme. More than 200 first and second year engineering students from the prestigious university

The Professional Engineering Applications Course (PEAC) gives the students the chance to undertake nine different activities – including fixing an engine, welding and working safely at height and in confined spaces. The innovative programme is designed to give students hands-on experience of the types of jobs they could do with their degrees – and encourage them to diversify their career choices.

DOUBLE NATIONAL WIN ALL STEMS FROM TOP CLASS TEESSIDE TEACHER A teacher at Middlesbrough College has scooped two national awards for excellence in teaching of STEM subjects.

A Level biology teacher and Head of Science Dr Richard Spencer – or “Doc” as students call him – received the ENTHUSE Award for Excellence in STEM Teaching from STEM Learning.

Richard also picked up the Royal Society of Biology’s Secondary School Biology Teacher or the Year 2018 award at the recent Education Awards Ceremony. The titles are in recognition of Richard’s wellknown commitment to inspiring pupils about biosciences through innovative teaching methods and involving students in extra-curricular projects.

ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMAS LAND ELLIE AND TORI THEIR DREAM JOBS! A full time mum-of-three who went back to college to retrain as a midwife has encouraged others like her to do the same. Ellie Young, decided to follow her dream of becoming a midwife, and now, having gone on to study at a top university, Ellie has swapped being a full time mum for being a full time midwife at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University hospital.

Ellie said, I cannot fault the course at all and I can’t recommend it enough.”

Teesside mum-of-one Tori Stephenson also received an Access to Higher Education Diploma from Middlesbrough College and is now in her final year of studying for a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.

STUDENT SUCCESS MELISSA PEARSON

She explained: “If you’re considering returning to education as a mature student then I’d definitely recommend thinking about engineering.”

Studied A Level Biology (A), Chemistry (A) and Maths (A) “All my teachers were so supportive and willing to help and give feedback.

I particularly enjoyed lessons with Doc (Richard Spencer)- he made every lesson so fun and interesting!”

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SWAGELOK TEESSIDE INVESTS £120,000 IN MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE STEM CENTRE Swagelok Teesside is already one of more than 35 industrial members of the STEM Advisory Board which guides the STEM Centre in its mission to meet the skills needs of local employers. This move is designed to gear Swagelok Teesside for growth in its training and onsite inspection services, and will see six employees based within the building.

A BIG WELD-DONE FOR JACK Middlesbrough College and Northern Skills Group learners are among the best in class – as 18-year-old welding wonder Jack Moran showed recently.

Jack, a Level 2 Welding student at the College, took home the top prize at the Inter College Welding Competition. He was joined in second place by classmate Curtis Marsh.

The pair, who attracted attention from regional employers, impressed judges with their deft handling of the challenging brief, which required students to demonstrate their skills in Manual Metal Arc welding (MMA) and Metal Inert Gas welding (MIG).

Middlesbrough College is accredited

by The Welding Institute to deliver practical weld tests so trainees can get CSCS Gold Cards – a key certification for professional welders.

Jack said: “The facilities at Middlesbrough College shone through on the day and I realised what an amazing environment we have here. I think that is why Curtis and I did so well.”

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MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE OPENS THE DOOR TO ENGINEERING SUCCESS Routes into high quality engineering jobs across the North East are waiting for eager learners at Middlesbrough College. At the College’s industryleading campus, complete with its £20m STEM training centre, hundreds of students are getting the hands-on experience they need to excel in well paid careers in mechanical engineering, instrumentation, electrical engineering and more.

“Working with Middlesbrough College has been very easy and very well organised, their support to develop a bespoke solution for the British Steel Teesside Beam Mill has been excellent.”

And Middlesbrough College’s apprenticeship training company, Northern Skills Group, trains more than 2,000 apprentices each year. Strong links with regional employers from across different sectors mean students get to grips with the skills that are needed on the job, meaning they are job ready when leaving.

ETHAN YOUNG

STEM LEARNING FOR STUDENTS Students who enrol onto a full time or part-time course with Middlesbrough College have access to our £20m STEM Centre. We provide a significant range of courses for learners of all ages including A Levels, technical certificates, PEO’s and more.

“I have learnt a lot of new information on my course and my tutors are very supportive. The best thing about Middlesbrough College is that the equipment is up to date.”

T LEVELS ARE MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR NORTH EAST EMPLOYERS New technical qualifications being introduced in 2020 could be a major opportunity for employers across the North East, a training expert has said.

We also work with a range of local, top employers, and are the largest provider of City & Guilds engineering qualifications in the UK. Our extensive partnerships with local employers mean that many of our full time students are able to progress onto an apprenticeship, gaining work experience in a professional environment, whilst still being on day release and enhancing

their skills further at the centre. Many of our apprentices are able to secure full time employment with their current employer following the completion of their framework, or now have the necessary practical experience to secure a job elsewhere.

Carol Jordan, director of employer engagement at Northern Skills Group, said the Government’s introduction of T Levels will allow employers to ensure they get the skills they need to grow. She encouraged North East employers to make sure they’re prepared for the changes, and to seize the opportunity to shape how their workforce is trained.

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STEM IN THE COMMUNITY

SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY

School trip with a twist

The Department for International Trade Chemical Industry hosted their network meeting at the STEM Centre to discuss how support can be given to help business growth in the sector.

The meeting included attendees such Head of Chemicals / Advanced Manufacturing for DIT, representatives from Department of Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), members of the Foreign Direct Investment Team and Scottish Development International.

Year 9 and 10 students from Unity City Academy and Hollis Academy spent a day at Middlesbrough College’s STEM Centre imagining they worked for a toy company that produced this summer’s craze.

MEET THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSIONER EVENT - Hosted by Recognition PR and Tees Valley Business

WHAT DID THEY THINK? “This has been a great way to get our pupils thinking about skills that can form the basis of a great career. I think it’s especially important as here on Teesside we’re surrounded by the process and manufacturing industries – for which these skills are so important.”

– Matty Budrewicz, student support worker at Unity City Academy, Middlesbrough

SEMBCORP’S COMMUNITY CALENDAR The STEM Centre also celebrated achievement of young artists in the area with Sembcorp’s Community Calendar event. 100 pupils, teachers and parents from the local area were invited to take part in a drawing competition.

Spongebob Squarepants and Peppa Pig were also on hand to help with judging and handing out awards to the young artists.

“Having, over many years developed relationships with industry and education on Teesside, in particular with Middlesbrough College and the STEM Centre we approached them as a possible venue for the exhibition.

The response was immediate and positive. The team were also very helpful, through their contacts with Teesside Industry and Commerce.”

– John Noon C. Eng F Inst. MC

Previous STEM Centre events include…

• Imagineer • Sembcorp Community Calendar • Northern Skills Group Skills for Breakfast supported

by Tees Valley Combined Authority • Cleveland Police Annual Awards • Women in STEM • Institute of Measurement and Control Teesside Annual Exhibition • Official STEM Centre launch with Professor Brian Cox

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