Its National Apprentice Week! #NAW2020
According to data from the Department of Education in 2019 over three times the percentage of year 13 leavers at Lincoln UTC secured apprenticeships compared to the national average for other mainstream schools and colleges (33.3% vs. 10%).
The UTC works in tandem with local businesses to provide students with the opportunity to benefit from educational opportunities grounded within real industry experiences. The large majority of alumni that have secured apprenticeships did so as a direct consequence of the relationships they formed with these employers whilst students at the UTC.
Figures from the Baker Dearing Trust also indicate that 57% of UTC leavers who progressed into an apprenticeship did so at a higher or degree level, compared to just 10% of all mainstream school and college leavers.
Gianluca Mele successfully applied for the Siemens Scholar Programme for UTC students when he joined the college in 2018. The bespoke programme has allowed Gianluca to work with a mentor from Siemens and complete two work experience placements alongside his studies. He has now automatically bypassed the initial steps of the national application process for a Siemens higher apprenticeship in mechanical engineering.
Gianluca said: “Lincoln UTC has a very close relationship with local industry partners such as Siemens, and being a Siemens Scholar has allowed me to build a professional relationship with the company over the past couple of years. It’s provided me an invaluable head start and I’m very grateful.”
Edward Richardson-Lee recently became the third UTC graduate to secure an apprenticeship with local engineering firm Fairfield Control Systems, which will begin following the completion of his A Level exams later this year.
Ben Searson, Lead Design Engineer at Fairfield Control Systems said: “Fairfields has developed a close partnership with Lincoln UTC since its inception in 2014. This ensures that we maintain an active role in bridging the engineering skills gap and a continued and successful long-standing apprenticeship programme with the next generation of engineers.
In the past we have offered several work placements to UTC students and delivered regular presentations to nurture interest in electrical and control engineering. Two UTC alumni have also been successfully recruited as apprentices, one of which has now been promoted into a full time position as a Design Engineer. We look forward to welcoming a third UTC recruit to the team later this year.”
Year 13 student Thomas De Serio is currently studying a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering at the UTC, and has secured full sponsorship by P&O Ferries Ltd. for a higher engineering apprenticeship in association with the British Merchant Navy and the Humberside Maritime College.
Thomas said: “I’ve studied at the UTC for the past four years which has allowed me to focus on the subject of engineering in depth and within excellent facilities, therefore I had a wealth of experience to draw upon during the apprenticeship application process.
My sponsorship with P&O means that my tuition fees will be paid in full and I will also receive a training and travel allowance throughout my studies. Upon completion I will qualify with a certificate of competency as an Officer of the Watch and a Higher National Diploma in Marine Engineering.”
Principal John Morrison said: “National Apprentice Week provides us with a valuable opportunity to celebrate students achieving their ambitions as a result of the support they have received at the UTC.
Our most recent Ofsted report confirmed that UTC students receive exceptionally high-quality advice towards their next steps in education, employment or training. In particular Ofsted praised our students for their high success rate in securing prestigious apprenticeships, for example, with the Royal Navy, RBM Agricultural Machinery and Prysmian Fibre Optics.
UTC graduates are in high demand by employers and go on to do incredible things.”