College News

Future Engineers

QE has launched its Future Engineers Scheme.  The unique initiative raises the profile of the diverse opportunities within engineering and builds upon QE’s longstanding tradition of students becoming engineers and having fantastic careers all over the world.  It involves the College working in partnership with employers, universities, Darlington Borough Council and training providers to give students experience, practical skills and insight into the wide range of exciting careers within the engineering industry.  The scheme will also raise awareness of the work local employers are doing on cutting edge projects as well as highlighting the excellent  prospects of working  globally as an engineer.   Providers will collaborate to ensure students understand the educational routes into engineering and help prepare them for future university or job applications.

Thirty- four second year students have already won places on the scheme and it will be opened to new first year students in the near future.  QE’s Future Engineers will benefit from opportunities including work experience, visits to organisations, links with university engineering departments, talks from local companies and engineers, mentoring and e- mentoring. There is an excellent network of employers to support the scheme. Those currently involved are:  Mechtool, AMEC, Cummins, MODUS, Henry Williams, Jacobs, Deep Ocean, Whessoe Oil & Gas, James Cook University Hospital, Bagby International Airfield, Glaxo Smith Kline and Rolls Royce.

Student, Edward John hopes to study engineering at Cambridge and is delighted to be part of the Scheme. He says:

‘It’s a fantastic way to gain experience and make links with well-known companies. I’m hoping to have opportunities with MODUS or Rolls Royce and am confident that this will help me with my future career plans.’

Liz Bryan, QE’s Higher Education and Employment Applications Co-ordinator, adds:

“We are very excited about our Future Engineers Scheme and working with other organisations to help prepare our students for progression, as well as giving them an insight into engineering as a career.  We are looking forward to helping create engineers for the future!”