Technology grant for East Riding College

Engineering students from East Riding College will next year be honing their skills with £220,000 of new industry standard equipment, thanks to a grant from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

The computer numerical controlled (CNC) equipment will mean that learners are working on the latest in industry technology and are well prepared to join the region’s workforce.

The equipment, to be installed at the Gallows Lane site over the summer, includes a new lathe, milling machine and a machine centre, a large piece of equipment that brings together various machining elements in order to manufacture components in a single process.

Dave Skelly, the College’s head of motor vehicle and engineering, said: “This grant is great news for students at the College as it means they will be learning on equipment that is used in industry, which will really make their CVs stand out.

“Our aim is always to give learners the skills and knowledge that employers want because that benefits both the learner themselves and the local and regional economy.”

Each of the CNC machines can be programmed – as opposed to traditional operation by hand – on an integrated console or by uploading 3D computer-generated images.

The grant follows a project bid to the SFA and represents the College’s increasing focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in response to government priorities.

It was backed by local firms Neptune Sonar, D and D Engineering and John Hall Engineering, who all highlighted the importance of CNC skills and knowledge in employees.

Liam Lockyer, 17, from Beverley, who is studying on the Level Three BTEC Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering, said: “This opens up a lot of opportunities. We have just visited the Mach 2014 manufacturing technologies exhibition that showed us the potential of the machines we are getting.

“You can make something really detailed – the precision is excellent in comparison to hand tools.”

James Storie, 17, also from Beverley, and studying on the same course, said: “They would improve the quality of our work, and the accuracy, as well as attracting potential new students to the College.

"It would also give us increased employability as we would be able to efficiently use industry standard equipment."        

The grant will also pay for a band saw, a surface grinder and 18 engineering science packs which will help tutors to teach topics such as tension, energy, friction and torsion.