Spirax Sarco wins praise for hands-on training of aspiring engineers

Spirax Sarco has won praise from local schools for giving engineering students the chance to train and gain hands-on experience using leading-edge industrial steam equipment.

The company opened its doors as part of the Launchpad initiative, which is a partnership of four schools around Tewkesbury that aims to deliver an outstanding platform for applied learning. Steam systems specialist Spirax Sarco has been working with Launchpad since 2012, and has recently provided training for 20 youngsters as part of a Level 2 Engineering Diploma.

‘The 20 pupils from Tewkesbury, Cleeve and Chipping Campden Schools received professional training using real products and test equipment that is not normally available to such youngsters,’ says Chris Flippance of Tewkesbury School. ‘This gave them the opportunity to develop basic skills, carry out measurements and appreciate the importance of a planned engineering maintenance system.

‘We look forward to working with [Spirax Sarco] again in the future. We are very fortunate to have such a capable local partner supporting our engineering training programme.’

This is not the only scheme for local students that Spirax Sarco are involved in as the engineering company is helping young people to develop their business and entrepreneurial skills by lending support to the Gloucestershire Young Enterprise programme, including sponsorship of the Trade Exhibition event, which took place on 5th March at Cheltenham Town Hall.

Open to the public, the Trade Exhibition is part of the Young Enterprise company programme aimed at students aged 15- 19. Over the course of a year, students participating in the programme have set-up and run their own businesses, with an emphasis on core business skills such as marketing, sales, finance and customer care.

The Trade Exhibition will mark the culmination of their efforts, with each business being required to exhibit their work at the event, and participate in a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style interview on their projects. Judges will score teams against various categories, with the winner entering the regional stage of the competition.

‘It’s our belief that large UK organisations all have a responsibility to the younger generation to help with the transition between education and employment,’ says Roger Glassonbury, Customer Training Manager at Spirax Sarco UK. ‘That’s also why we’ve invested heavily in our own apprenticeships and graduate programmes, as well as working closely with local schools to find the engineers of the future.’

Spirax Sarco Ltd
Tel: 01242 521361
www.spiraxsarco.com/uk

Published: 28th June 2013