Apprentices and Young People
NWAA Appoint Two New Youth Ambassadors
High-flying engineering apprentices Andrew Fielding and Rowan McKenzie have landed major honorary roles to help attract more young people into the aerospace industry.
Andrew and Rowan will act as a ‘Youth Ambassadors’ for the North West Aerospace Alliance, representing the organisation at air shows, skills challenges and other events both regionally and nationally.
Bolton-born Andrew, an electronics engineering apprentice at Lostock-based defence engineering company MBDA and Colne-born Rowan an apprentice at Foulridge-based aerospace engineering company Weston EU first became linked with the NWAA after landing the NWAA’s Best North West Aerospace/Defence Apprentice Awards 2008. Andrew was Awarded the A.V Roe Trophy and Rowan was awarded the Irene Short Trophy for thier outstanding achievements in their careers so far.
Andrew and Rowan now represent the NWAA for the next two years as it tries to attract more young people into the aerospace industry.
Andrew, 19 is no stranger to success in regional and national skills competitions. The former Mount St Joseph’s Business and Enterprise College student has been selected in the squad for a world skills competition being held in Canada in the summer and hopes to be selected for the final team.
He commented: “It’s great to have a passion for apprenticeships and engineering and I am looking forward to the opportunity to help to promote this through involvement as a Youth Ambassador.”
Rowan, 20 a former Primet High School Student and keen mountain biker says: ““I think I will enjoy the new role and I’m looking forward to the opportunities it will present.”
Rachel Brickell, North West Aerospace Alliance Skills Manager explains: “Attracting young people with the right skills and outlook is a major challenge for the industry at present and will become even more challenging as school rolls fall in future years.
“Andrew and Rowan will be helping us to spread the message that young people can have an exciting and rewarding career in the aerospace and defence sector.”
The North West Aerospace Alliance represents some 300 plus aerospace, defence and related companies in the region and provides a range of programmes aimed at improving skills, competitiveness and assisting the region’s supply chain to work towards world class status.
The NWAA Young People Awards 2009
The NWAA Young People Awards will begin again in March with university students and engineering apprentices entering their submissions for The Sir Frank Whittle Award and The Best North West Aerospace/Defence Apprentice Awards.
The Sir Frank Whittle award is presented to the student whose 3rd year project is rated highest against the criteria of innovation and potential for commercial application.
Organised by the North West Aerospace Alliance and sponsored by Rolls-Royce plc, it is open to all full time undergraduate students on courses at a North West University.
The Winner of The Sir Frank Whittle Award winner will receive the following:
- The Prestigious Sir Frank Whittle Trophy
- Cash prize of £1,000.
The Best North West Aerospace/Defence Apprentice Awards consist of The A.V Roe Trophy for candidates from companies of any size and The Irene Short Trophy for candidates of smaller companies with less than 500 employees.
Each candidate will submit a test piece of their work for scrutiny, the test piece will then form the basis of their 30 minute interview by a panel of expert judges. Again organised by The NWAA and Sponsored by Rolls -Royce plc the award is open to all aerospace apprentices in North West companies. Candidates must be no older that 21 years on 01.09.09.
The Winners of the awards with recieve either The A.V Roe Trophy or The Irene Short Trophy and a cash prize of £1,000.
In addition to the above there will also be an award for the Best North West University and the Best North West Training Provider.
The awards evening will be held on Thursday 29th October 2009 at The Imperial War Museum North. To get involved with either of the awards in the form of entering your students, university or training company or to sponsor the awards evening please contact sarah.bispham@aerospace.co.uk
Teenagers Gain Insight into Top Apprenticeships
The North West Aerospace Alliance was on hand to help teenagers “test out” some of Britain’s top jobs ahead of National Apprenticeship Week
They saw the work of North West apprentices first hand when they joined in fun activities at the Make It in Manufacturing zone at the Skills North West careers event in Bolton
Thousands of teenagers from across the region were given a valuable insight into these jobs when they joined apprentices and other staff from 14 top manufacturing and engineering businesses, together with organisations including the North West Aerospace Alliance who supported practical activities and had its two new youth ambassadors on hand to speak to visitors.
Make It in Manufacturing (www.makeit.org.uk) is a campaign led by The Manufacturing Institute and its industry partners to encourage the next generation of talent to consider careers in industry.
Young visitors joined in hands-on activities, including taking a 3D journey through a jet engine, designing an engine and testing its performance in virtual flight as well as experiencing plastic moulding, mixing hair gel, making metal aircraft, soldering badges, laser-cutting key-rings and creating bags.
Other partners involved in the zone included Aegis Tailored Protection, Aircelle, BAE Systems, Chemicals Northwest, Cogent, MBDA, McBride, Northwest Aerospace Alliance, Optare, Unison Engine Components and the University of Manchester Aerospace Research Institute.
Rachel Brickell, NWAA's Skills and Training Manager says "Young People are the future of our aerospace industry and North West Aerospace Alliance is committed to promoting the exciting career opportunities that the industry offers. Our partnership with The Manufacturing Institutes' Make It Campaign and particularly events such as Skills Northwest are essential if we are to succeed."
Skills NorthWest www.skillsnw.co.uk is the region’s largest interactive skills and careers fair for 14-19 year-olds and brings together regional skills sectors, businesses, education establishments and training providers with approximately 15,000 young people in a bid to inspire young people in their career choices.
