Exeter College Launches Unique Engineering Academy in Partnership with HepcoMotion
Exeter College and HepcoMotion have launched a T Level Engineering Academy, the first of its kind in the UK. The Academy will be open to all T Level Engineering students from September 2022, giving learners a clear line of sight to industry and providing them with vital experience.
T Levels are a technical qualification that were first rolled out in September 2020, Exeter College was one of the first providers in the country to be offering the Government’s new T Level qualifications. From September 2022, Exeter College will be offering over ten T Levels covering subjects such as Digital Production, Design and Development and Health.
There will initially be fourteen places available with interviews being conducted at HepcoMotion in Tiverton. Students will benefit from a minimum of 40 days of industry placement, a mentor programme, site visits and specially selected sessions delivered at the College by HepcoMotion.
HepcoMotion, part of the Hepco Group of companies is a world-leading manufacturer of linear motion systems and automation components. Exeter College is delighted to be strengthening its partnership with Hepco through the delivery of this Academy. Working together on a number of projects since 2016, Hepco and Exeter College originally joined forces to offer Engineering Pre-Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Higher Education opportunities.
Head of Faculty for Engineering at Exeter College, Andy Wells said;
“We are incredibly excited to be able to offer our students this unique opportunity. The time spent with Hepco will be invaluable and will place our students a head above the rest when venturing into the world of work.
“It is hoped that this Academy will create a pipeline for talent spotting and recruitment – feeding learners directly into jobs in industry. We believe it will enhance the already great reputation that HepcoMotion holds in the local community and nationally and we cannot wait to get started.”
Head of Learning Development and Apprenticeships at HepcoMotion, Maurice Porter said;
“Hepco is pleased to build on its successful training programmes and apprenticeships by introducing The Hepco Academy in partnership with Exeter College. This exciting development will strengthen our partnership with the College and further develop our training for Hepco employees.”
Free Advanced Manufacturing course launched for adults at Exeter College
Exeter College is proud to be offering adult learners (18+) the opportunity to retrain for a career in Advanced Manufacturing by taking part in a FREE part-time course.
Starting from 27 April 2022, this is a 10-week course, funded in full by the Government and delivered in partnership with HepcoMotion in Tiverton.
The free Advanced Manufacturing course focuses on developing practical skills for the workplace and will consist of a two day per week learning experience with our subject specialist lecturers at Exeter College and experience of working within HepcoMotion.
An engineering warehouse at our Technology Centre
The course will cover:
Awareness of Health and Safety in Manufacturing
Completing milling tasks
Completing turning tasks
Learning how to programme a CNC system
By the end of the course, students will have produced a portfolio of evidence and will be able to attend a job interview for a genuine vacancy in the industry, backed up by the skills learnt during the course. The portfolio will provide employers with evidence of your new skillset.
Applying for the course is easy – simply fill this form in and our team will be in touch!
Need help with deciding on your pathway or have any more questions? Contact the Adult Learning Advisers on AdultAdvice@exe-coll.ac.uk
Exeter College Students to Study at World-Leading Aeronautical University in Florida
Exeter College is delighted to have secured government funding to be able to offer students studying the National Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering the chance to learn at a world-leading university in Florida.
The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a specialised Aeronautical University based in Florida with several campuses across the globe. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degree programmes in arts, sciences, aviation, business, and engineering.
This summer Exeter College students will have ten days to fully immerse themselves in university life and participate in core learning activities linked to aviation.
“We are all really excited about the visit to Embry Riddle University in June, it’s an amazing opportunity to further my knowledge in aerospace engineering and have the experience of a lifetime!”
Students will be trained by world-class aviation teachers, global leaders in their profession, and learn specific skills and knowledge in drone technology, alternative fuels and future flight technologies.
Students will also be given the opportunity to apply the theory they have already learned in the classroom to real-life scenarios. This experience will improve their employability and career prospects, having developed their skill set in an aeronautical industry placement.
Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement at Exeter College, Mike Blakeley said:
“This visit will give our Aeronautical Engineering students the unique opportunity to build on their learning. Embry-Riddle equips students with the skills to solve even the most complex challenges in design, propulsion, and systems for aircraft and/or spacecraft. By learning in a new cultural and geographical context, students will be exposed to new ideas and different learning styles and methods from a highly prestigious institute.”
This trip has been made possible by The Turing Scheme. The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s scheme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. It supports UK teaching and training organisations to offer their learners life-changing experiences to study or work abroad.
Find out more about this course and other Engineering courses at the next Exeter College Open Event on 28 April 2022.
Exeter College Students Recognised at 2020 BTEC Awards
Five inspirational Exeter College BTEC students have been recognised at the prestigious Pearson BTEC Awards.
Cain Spiller, from Honiton, received a Silver Award, while Alex Dixon, Rachel Hamilton, Cleopatra Gatting, and Tinka Dos Santos all received bronze awards in their respective categories, recognising their exceptional work during their programme of study.
Their hard work was celebrated at the tenth anniversary of Pearson’s annual BTEC Awards hosted online in the last few weeks.
The 2020 BTEC Awards comprised of 17 categories and was hosted by the presenter of the United Stand, YouTube influencer and BTEC Ambassador, Flex, with awards presented by Double Olympic Gold medallist Max Whitlock as well as actress and former BTEC Drama student at The BRIT School, Kellie Shirley. The expert panel of judges made up of Pearson’s senior leadership team, journalists and external experts, carefully considered the nominees before deciding on the winners.
19-year-old Cain Spiller, who won a Silver Award for Public Services Student of the Year, said, “When I was awarded the BTEC Award, I was filled with excitement and pride. It stood as a reminder to me that all the hard work I had put into my course had paid off and was recognised.”
Cain also thanked his teachers for their support during his studies saying, “All my tutors went above and beyond to help me gain the skills I needed to become a police officer. They would keep me up to date on all training days and recruitment and have given me the best possible chance of getting into the police service.”
Rachel Hamilton, 17, from Holsworthy, achieved the Bronze Award in BTEC Child & Social Care Learner of the Year. She said, “I was honestly surprised that I was nominated, let alone won Bronze, so I was incredibly shocked. I would like to thank Kelvin Edwards for nominating me, and all of the teachers who have helped me over the past two years.”
Exeter College’s Head of Healthcare and Public Services Heidi Amor said, “We’re incredibly proud of Cain and Rachel’s achievements. They’ve both shown a remarkable commitment to their studies throughout their time with us.
“Cain has been a true champion of his course and is always looking at how his studies can push him further in his career aspirations.
“Rachel has been an amazing learner during her studies, constantly pushing herself to be the best she can be and learning new skills all the time. She thoroughly deserves this award and is sure to be a success in her future career.”
Alex Dixon, 28, from Tiverton, was awarded a Bronze Award for BTEC Engineering Learner of the Year. Alex said, “I was thrilled, and if I’m honest, surprised to see that I had received a Bronze Award for Engineering Student of the Year. However, I can’t take all the credit; this is an amalgamation of effort not just by me but from my lecturers at Exeter College as well who have helped me reach my potential and deserve half of this award.”
Andy Wells, Head of Engineering, Aerospace and Automotive at Exeter College, said, “We’re incredibly proud of Alex’s achievements. He’s a fantastic role model for what can be achieved with hard work, endeavour and a selfless attitude. He’s a truly exceptional ambassador for engineering Apprenticeships and has already achieved so much throughout his studies. Alex is already excelling in his chosen career; he is an innovator, and I can’t wait to see where his efforts take him next.”
Alex’s latest accolade follows on from him being named as a Green Gown Award winner in 2018, recognising his work around sustainability.
Two of Exeter College’s Construction students won Bronze Awards, as Cleopatra Gatting and Tinka Dos Santos were recognised in the BTEC Construction Student of the Year category.
Chulmleigh-based Cleopatra, who studied her Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment with Exeter College, said, “It felt amazing to win the award and to be recognised for my hard work.
“The College has been great in supporting me throughout my course, and I was honoured that they nominated me for this award.”
Tinka Dos Santos, 41, said, “It felt great to be acknowledged for the hard work I had put in; it can be tough working, studying and maintaining a balanced family life.
“I really enjoyed studying at Exeter College, I was sorry to leave, all the tutors and assessors were so supportive, and I wouldn’t have done so well if it wasn’t for their help.”
Exeter College Head of Construction Dave O’Connor said, “As a department, we’re thrilled to have two students recognised at the BTEC Awards. It’s a huge testament to the character and commitment both students have shown during their studies, and I’m sure they’ll both go on to achieve incredible things.”
Reflecting on the online event as a whole, Cindy Rampersaud, Senior Vice President BTEC and Apprenticeship, said: “This year I’ve been overwhelmed by the quality of BTEC Award nominations we received, and I am delighted to celebrate this year’s winners and the achievements of all learners who will be awarded a BTEC this year. Over the past few weeks and months, we’ve seen how the current pandemic has highlighted the critical role of key workers and individuals who are likely to have followed a vocational educational pathway such as BTEC.”
Two Years On: Alex Dixon, Green Gown Award Winner 2018
As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.
Exeter College student Alex Dixon made headlines in 2018 when he was announced as the Green Gown Award winner for Student Research with Impact, celebrating his achievements around sustainability as part of his electrical engineering course at college and in the workplace.
“I’m so proud to have won the award, not just for me personally but also for the college and the lecturers who helped me get there,”
Alex Dixon, Green Gown Award Winner, 2018
Two years on from his inspirational achievement, we caught up with Alex to talk through what he’s up to now and how winning the sustainability award has helped him develop his career, as well as play a small part in helping the environment.
The Green Gown Awards were created in 2004 to recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges. Alex’s name joined the list of award winners in 2018 thanks to his sustainable, and money saving, circuit board redesign at his place of work during his studies, Fraser Anti Static.
Alex Dixon, pictured with his Green Gown Award in the Exeter College Technology Centre
Alex, now 27, was studying for his Higher National Certificate in Electrical Engineering with Exeter College when he found out that his work at Fraser Anti Static had been recognised with a coveted Green Gown Award.
“I’m so proud to have won the award, not just for me personally but also for the college and the lecturers who helped me get there.”
“Since winning, I have definitely been given a boost in my career and it’s great to have made a positive and lasting impact on the way Fraser Anti Static was working.”
Alex’s innovation that won him the Green Gown Award was to redesign the Fraser Anti Static printed circuit board manufacturing methods, enabling the elimination of many environmentally damaging processes, including the lengthy transportation of materials. This redesign not only helped revolutionise the environmental footprint of the circuit board creation, but also saved the company in the region of £20,000 in 2018 alone thanks to the refined process.
Alex continued: “It was great to have a real, genuine impact on the running of that business but also to know that what I had done had been another small step on the way to a more sustainable world.
“By managing to dramatically reduce several environmentally damaging processes, including the transport of materials, we took a small step in the right direction to helping to protect the environment.”
Today, Alex has moved to work with leading electrical manufacturer MK Test Systems near Taunton while he continues his studies with college. He believes the opportunities in his career has improved thanks to his Green Gown Award.
“When I came to meet the team here they really wanted to talk about what I had done with Fraser Anti Static and how I achieved the Green Gown Award win,” said Alex.
“I plan to finish my qualification with Exeter College in August 2021 and go on to complete a degree in electrical engineering.”
A change of heart at 20…
It could have been a very different tale for Alex as he reached a crossroad in his life when he turned 20.
After completing his formal education from school and college, Alex found himself having to make a poignant decision in his life, as he was about to start a degree in business management.
Alex said, “I think I was going through the motions a little bit and I knew deep down that I really didn’t want to be doing that degree.
“I knew I had always been interested in engineering, but at that point in my life, moving into a career in it would have involved complete retraining from the ground up. Fortunately, I decided to go for it and started by getting a BTEC and worked up from there.”
Alex took some time to reflect on the impact his lecturers at Exeter College have had on his rise in the electrical engineering industry. He said, “It has been a great experience learning with the college.”
“The lecturers are really accommodating of all learners and understand the pressures that some adult learners have to deal with outside of the classroom. They’re incredibly supportive and Richard Masters [Programme Lead, Aerospace and Sustainability] was instrumental in me getting the Green Gown Award.”
