Education

This group is chaired by Ian Dalgarno of Hertel Services.

The engineering sector is facing significant shortfalls in attracting new entrants to the sector and in the skills available within the sector. It is crucial these issues are addressed now for the sector to be able to sustain itself ten years hence.

This group is responsible for identifying opportunity and designing and implementing unique activities that:

  • Improve industry/school/FE/HE links, to ensure an increase in the quality and quantity of young people seeking careers in the sector.
  • Increase the take-up of new/broader skills by existing personnel, at all levels.
  • Ensuring TVEP is aware of and involved in, where appropriate,  activities initiated by other agencies.

Current Projects

Christmas Lectures

In 2006, the TVEP (in association with SETPOINT Durham & Tees Valley) arranged a series of lectures with an Engineering theme. The lectures were aimed at Y9 pupils and the invite was made to all schools in the Tees Valley area. Due to the success of the event in 2006, a similar set of lectures were held in December 2007.

Presented by Huw James of Science Made Simple, the hour long 'Engineering Explained' shows highlighted a range of career options available in the engineering sector including those in the medical, civil engineering and aerospace sectors. The live demonstrations, which included examples of how lasers are used to transfer information and how curved wings help a plane stay in the air, were mixed with video testimonies from young engineers who are currently thriving in the sector.

Over a 1000 students attended the lectures over the course of the 2 days, and feedback from both pupils and teachers has been fantastic.

A video report of the event is now available, please click on the picture below

L-R - Huw James of Science Made Simple, Angus McNiff from Education Village, and Malcolm Potter of TVEP

 

Engineering Diploma


14 - 19 Yr Old Engineering Diploma: What does this mean for Industry?

(Middlebrough chosen to pilot diploma September 2007)
The introduction of the Government’s 14-19 reforms, as set out in the DfES 14-19 Implementation Plan, is beginning to take effect across the UK. Schools, colleges and other training providers are already adapting their curriculum’s to include a greater focus on functional skills and a series of specialist diplomas have been developed to ensure that more young learners achieve nationally recognised qualifications in work related capabilities, including engineering......

First line managerial Training -

View Case Study from the programme

A TVEP objective is to discover and meet the needs of the engineering sector on Teesside. Two years ago TVEP led some research within the sector examining areas with need for training. Having discussed this with different engineering organisations, the common issue that came out was the lack of comprehensive, quality first-line managerial training.

It was evident that there was a genuine skills gap in skills training at first line manager level. Individuals are promoted from shop floor to management positions with little or no training in how to be a successful manager.

In 2004 TVEP and  Macfarlane (Leadership) Ltd together developed a unique training programme for first line managers within the engineering sector of the Tees Valley. It assumes individuals know what to do and concentrates on how they conduct themselves as managers. The basic course is the ''Introductory Certificate in First Line Management'' accredited at GNVQ Level 3 but the learning is about more than this. It has been a highly successful initiative and we are running our 4th programme now. For more information please view our Programme Evaluation Report 

Please note due to the success of the course we are currently looking for recruits for the next programme commencing September 2007 contact malcolm@tvep.co.uk for further details. The programme is TVEP subsidised.

Ex-Forces Transition Course to Ease Skills Shortages


The Package                       
 
The course will use the funding available to individual leavers to subsidise appropriate skills refinement and obtain a pledge from participating companies to cover remaining costs. TVEP will provide some top-up funding where there are groups of people with similar training needs.
 
The course aims to act as a translation service helping recruits to articulate their existing skills and communicate
these to industry. Army leavers possess key engineering skills that employee's need and the   
course will unravel this expertise.
 
Why implement this course?
 

TVEP are well aware that one of the most impending factors on engineering companies is the immediate need to recruit numbers of good quality people.

The prospects for the industry are excellent and long term and the training and experience the ex-army leavers have should accelerate this transition.However there are difficulties in translating current CVs into terminology understood by employers. Army leavers need support in presenting themselves and this is where the course will be of benefit giving the leavers the support and confidence needed to achieve in an engineering career.

 

Yr 9 Activity Days

Due to the success of last years event                  
TVEPare pioneering the second programme 
of engineering activity days for yr 9 
pupils. The days are packed full of fun 
activites including and introduction to 
CAD and virtual engineering drawings.

The pupils design a product using pro-desktop
and then make the final product to take home by going through the relevant make
processes and gaining practical experience
of using engineering tools.
TVEP are currently in the process of developing 'Engineering After Schools Clubs'

Young persons Health and Safety Passports       


In order to encourage employee       
engagement TVEP along with NETA have designed a course 
aimed at providing children with 
health and safety tarining.This reduces the risk of having school children in an industrial environment to the employer.   

 

 

 

Engineers In Residence

Local schools are concerned about their ability to provide current and informed teaching and advice about the engineering sector. This issue will escalate with the introduction of the new 14-19 specialist diploma..TVEP is giving valuable assistance to schools in the form of the introduction of engineers into schools to provide practical advice and direction.

We now have 16 engineers based around 8 schools in the Tees Valley and are coordinating after school engineering clubs with the young engineer's input.

 3 main objectives:

  •  To reinforce teaching in the classroom (but not to teach). Teacher support. 
  •  To provide advice about careers and career progression in engineering.
  •  To set up an after-school engineering club (in liaison with Setpoint).  

For more information on Tees Valley Engineering Partnership or education in engineering please contact us