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TDR Training LtdWest Wing
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Team Valley
Gateshead
NE11 0BL
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information@tdrtraining.co.uk
Tomorrow's Engineers
Programme Description
Tomorrows Engineers are at school today.
The Tomorrow's Engineers programme aims to raise awareness of Engineering as a career for young people who are studying engineering, technology or other appropriate subjects at GCSE or GNVQ level. Interested students at participating schools are asked to apply for the programme at the start of year 10 and will be given the opportunity to visit a range of different engineering companies, complete a two week work experience placement in industry and gain mentoring support from engineers throughout year 10 and year 11.
Examples of Work Experience
Boldon Comprehensive School's Work Experience
TDR welcomes a new school to the Tomorrow's Engineers programme. Six students from Boldon Comprehensive School in Tyneside spent their two weeks work experience in May with three companies in the region. TDR relies on the goodwill of companies who regularly provide work experience opportunities for our Tomorrow's Engineers students. We are extremely grateful to all our companies for the time and effort they give to ensure the students have hugely beneficial and enjoyable work experiences.
Two students from Boldon Comprehensive School spent their two weeks work experience at Tyne Tunnels. The students enjoyed the experience immensely and covered a wide range of duties within the maintenance department. This included checking the operation of the coin machines in the toll booths and the circuitry and systems which control the traffic lights, barriers and escalators in the pedestrian and cycle tunnels. The company said "The two students from TDR were confident, intelligent and willing to laugh with the staff. It is important to enjoy your chosen career". The students said "It feels like we are leaving a team behind", which the company feels is a massive compliment. Both students stated that they want to be engineers and were reluctant to go back to school. All of which points to the success of the work experience placement in meeting its objectives.
Another two students from Boldon Comprehensive School spent their two weeks work experience at Stovrite in Gateshead. Strovrite is a sheet metal work company and there the students were able to try a variety of production techniques and processes. During their placement the students worked on a key- holder storage box, which they designed and manufactured, and gained experience of using a range of machinery including a punch, a bender, a cutter, a saw drill and a sander. Both students really enjoyed the experience and Stovrite commented that both youngsters were a credit to their school and to TDR..
The final two students from Boldon Comprehensive school spent their two weeks work experience at Turbo Engineering in Hebburn. The company manufactures fixings and fasteners and the students gained lots of hands on experience on various machinery including CNC lathes, cutting machines, filing machines and the capstan machine.
This work experience placement coincided with Turbo's busiest period due to a rush contract order and both students were able to experience all aspects of production. They had an enjoyable placement and were very interested in finding out about how an engineering company operates.
Whitburn C of E School Tomorrow's Engineers Work Experience
Four students from Whitburn C of E School spent their two weeks work experience with Domnick Hunter in March 2006. During their time they experienced the work of a range of departments and worked with stainless steel, carbon steel, quality inspection and the clean room process. The students found the stainless steel work interesting and challenging, the carbon steel work cold - as the shutter doors were open and loud, the quality inspection work focussed and tiring and the clean room work organised, busy and important to the quality of the product. Overall they said their placement was "fun, exciting and an excellent opportunity to experience how an engineering company functions”. They particularly enjoyed trying to do TIG and MIG welding.
A student from Whitburn C of E School spent his two weeks work experience in March 2006 with Fitz Fabrication and design. As well as working with the guys' onsite and in the workshop the student designed a built a puppy gate. After ensuring that all the measurements were correct and getting to grips with all the tools and the welding gear, the final design was successfully constructed. Overall the experience was very enjoyable and the student would definitely be interested in a career in engineering working with metal.
Mentoring
In order to introduce the students to the full range of skills they will need to develop as they pursue a career in engineering each student is allocated a mentor from the work placement company. Each student is expected to meet up with their mentor on at least three occasions throughout years 10 and years 11 to discuss their GCSE or GNVQ projects. These sessions aim to increase the students' confidence when presenting ideas to an audience and develop their interpersonal skills. They will also develop and increase their analytical skills through learning to review their work, reflect on progress and problems encountered and benchmark outcomes against their own set targets.