19 June 2006 00:00 Skills Minister supports launch of groundbreaking engineering programme across the West Midlands
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has launched its pioneering new educational programme, plugin2engineering, with support from Skills Minister Phil Hope.
The new programme, which aims to engage with young people and raise the profile of electrical engineering, will be rolled out at 12 schools across the West Midlands region in the coming weeks*.
Central Networks Managing Director Bob Taylor said: “We’re pleased to be announcing the start of our new education programme and delighted Phil Hope is offering his support.
“We believe we’ve developed a programme that will really excite youngsters and believe it will spark an interest in power engineering.
“We’ll be working closely with 21 schools across central England which have achieved, or which are working to achieve, specialist status in science, engineering or technology, meaning thousands of young people will benefit from the programme.”
Phil Hope MP said: “This Government’s skills strategy and Further Education reforms are ensuring that industry’s skills needs are met. Employers are working ever more closely with colleges to secure the training they need to close skills gaps in every sector of the economy. Industry for its part is offering more apprenticeships, work based training and work experience for those at school thinking about their careers.
“Projects like plugin2engineering, aimed at 11-18 year olds, provide a crucial insight into the world of work and engineering through visits and tasters. Innovative schemes like this where industry is working with schools and encouraging young people to consider careers in engineering are exactly the sort of initiative that will help create the skilled workforce of the future.”
plugin2engineering is the first course of its kind developed and delivered by an electricity distribution company and is aimed at 11-18 year-olds.
Through the programme, the young people will work directly with Central Networks engineers to get a real insight into the business and the industry. And, as well as classroom teaching, those involved will have the chance to get a ‘hands on feel’ for the industry through work experience opportunities, special activities and open days.
In addition schools and colleges will have the opportunity to visit power stations and take part in the Project of the Year awards.
“Much has been said about the looming skills shortage in our industry,” said Bob.
“We firmly believe programmes like ours are part of the solution to ensure we encourage a flow of talented young people into our industry.
“It’s essential that we get out there and talk to young people about our industry and get them interested in a possible career with us or in the profession generally.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
*West Midlands School’s approached to take part in the scheme:
Whitecross School Lydney, Gloucestershire
Cleeve School Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire
Warriner School Bloxham, Banbury
Haywood High School Burslem, Staffordshire
Meole Brace School Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Charlton School Wellington, Telford
Heath Park Business & Enterprise College Wolverhampton
Turves Green Girls School Northfield, Birmingham
Matthew Boulton College Birmingahm
Pershore High School Pershore, Worcestershire
The Bishops Of Hereford’s Bluecoat School Tupsley, Herefordshire
Ludlow Church of England School, Ludlow, Shropshire
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.
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