Member Article

Taking students to the dizzy heights of their future career

Redcar and Cleveland College officially unveiled a new 30-foot industrial training rig to its grounds this week, to help equip people with the skills to meet the region’s future industry needs.

Built to replicate the real demands of working in an industrial environment, the facility will support training in decommissioning, rope access and industrial competency.

Opening up training and retraining opportunities not just for students but also adult learners, College Principal Jason Faulkner said: “The training site forms part of a phased plan to ensure that the college, working with specialist partners including Total Solutions, can provide skilled, competent and safety aware individuals for the energy, engineering and advanced manufacturing industries.”

Welcoming the addition of the industrial training offer available at Redcar, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I was delighted to help launch this impressive new training rig which is another string in the bow for Redcar and Cleveland College and its dedication to educating our engineers of the future.

“With the world’s biggest offshore wind farm just 80-miles off our coast our region has developed an enviable reputation as a centre of excellence for the offshore wind industry, and with the official launch of Net Zero Teesside we are now leading the world in industrial-scale decarbonisation - meaning ground-breaking technologies will be developed right here in Teesside.

“Now we’ve taken control of the former Redcar steelworks site, we have the building blocks in place to deliver the good quality jobs we all want to see come to the region, and this new training rig will help give local people the skills they need to succeed in the jobs being brought to the site, as well as those we’re creating across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Leader Councillor Mary Lanigan said: “This is really good thinking and has the potential to benefit both our young people and our businesses for years to come. It is vital that our young people are properly prepared to enter the world of work with the right skills and knowledge for modern industry. Well done to everyone involved.”

College Principal Jason added: “As a college, we are listening to industry and responding to the challenges that they tell us they face. We want to ensure we are preparing people to help meet that demand.

“With the planned developments and opportunities ahead, we see there is an emerging need to provide individuals who are not only trained but also have the behaviours and safe working practices that industry needs. Employers want resilient young people or adults that are safety aware.

“We are trying to replicate a real industrial setting to help our students and adult learners develop the resilience, behaviours and safety awareness to be ready to work in those environments.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Marie Turbill .