Planting the seeds

Mar 25 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

A GROUP of 10 students from English Martyrs Sixth Form College in Hartlepool have given their careers in engineering a kick-start following a five-month project with leading North-east recycling and waste company, SITA UK, at its Tees Valley energy-from-waste (EfW) plant.

As part of the Engineering Education Scheme England (EESE) - which SITA UK has supported for the last six years - the students took part in an exciting engineering project to gain an insight into the technical operations of the Billingham-based plant.

Working in two groups led by SITA UK engineers Mark Atkinson and Trevor Gowland, the students undertook projects based on the complex control and water systems operating at the plant.

Over the past few months, the talented students have taken part in several sessions with SITA UK’s engineers and spent a full day on the plant followed by a three-day residential course at Newcastle University working on the practical aspects of the project. They are now looking forward to concluding their work and exhibiting their projects at a

Celebration and Assessment Day on 30 April.

The aims of the EESE initiative are to give students the opportunity to work with qualified engineers on practical projects in a working environment, to change perceptions of engineering and to give a real flavour of what it would be like to work in industries where engineers have a central role.

All the students have been entered for the BA Gold Crest Award, a nationally-recognised accreditation scheme, which is highly regarded by universities and employers.

Sixteen-year old Shreya Sinha found the scheme extremely valuable. “It was the first real opportunity to see what a job in engineering could entail. At a time when these jobs are very necessary, it was good to see this as a promising career path to consider.”

Head of Sixth Form at English Martyrs College, Dr Martine Crilley, is delighted with their progress.

“This is the second year that the college has worked with SITA UK and everything has gone extremely well. Our students have gained a great deal from the initiative, in particular in helping them to develop the skills required for university and for working in industry. Two students who participated last year are going onto first-class universities to study engineering, one at Oxford and the other at Imperial College, London.

“We anticipate all students achieving the Gold Crest Award and possibly some will decide to study engineering at university. As a college we encourage all our students to be involved with as many projects as possible and we are very happy to work with SITA in the future”, she said.

Mark Atkinson, Plant Manager at SITA UK’s Tees Valley EfW facility said: “Both groups have worked tremendously hard and I am sure they will produce excellent results in their projects. As the engineers of the future, I wish them every success.”

Bryan Lawrence, regional director for the Engineering Education Scheme said: “Not only is it a great opportunity for the students to experience and utilise the engineering, science and technology facilities at a top class university and a leading recycling and waste management company like SITA UK, but they also get a taste of student life and a real working environment. The positive impact of this experience is evident, each year over 85 per cent of EES participants have gone on to study for engineering, science or technology related degrees.”