Member Article

Students go behind the scenes at Hartlepool manufacturing plant

Students from a Teesside college have been treated to a tour around one of the North East’s leading manufacturing facilities as part of a push to create closer ties between education and business.

Plastic moulding and tooling specialist, Omega Plastics, welcomed a group of engineering students from The Sixth Form at Dyke House College to its facility in Hartlepool to give them an exclusive behind the scenes look at what goes in a busy factory.

One of three plants operated across the North East by the Omega Plastics Group, the Hartlepool facility is the Group’s specialist product development unit for clients operating in the medical sector.

During the visit, the students were given a full factory tour by Omega Plastics’ managing director, Gary Powner, and marketing and CSR manager, Megan Carr.

“It was great to have the staff and students from Dyke House Sports and Technology College visit our site in Hartlepool,” said Gary.

“The students were very engaged and interested and asked some great questions about our product development and manufacturing processes.

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce so it’s important we showcase not only our business but also the variety of fantastic career opportunities we can provide.”

Dyke House is one of a number of schools and colleges that Omega Plastics is working with in the local area to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.

Megan Carr, marketing and CSR manager at Omega Plastics, said:

“Creating stronger relationships between business and education is something we feel passionately about at Omega Plastics.

“Many children leave school not knowing what they would like to do as a career and not aware of the opportunities that are right here on their doorstep in the North East.

“We strongly believe that doing our bit to promote the manufacturing sector by engaging with young people while they are still at school will help to change this for the better ensuring our best young talent remains here in the region.”

Claire Ungley, teacher and post-16 aspirations co-ordinator at The Sixth Form at Dyke House College, said:

“We had a fantastic time visiting Omega Plastics with our first ever cohort of engineering students.

“Seeing the machinery up-close, and handling a variety of objects from a collapsible cup to a van roof vent, really opened our students’ eyes to the variety that a career in engineering can bring.

“Even more importantly, it was inspiring to see that great things happen right on our doorstep in Hartlepool.

“There’s certainly a buzz around the Sixth Form following the visit, and we’re excited to continue working with Omega Plastics in the future.”

In testimony to the company’s efforts to bring education providers and local businesses closer together, Omega Plastics recently scooped the top prize in the Corporate Social Responsibility category at the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Business Awards.

To find out more about Omega Plastics, visit www.omega-plastics.co.uk.

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