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their success

The Royal Corps of Engineers, meanwhile,

worked with students on a bridge-building project. As well as businesses, the consortium also

works closely with the University of the West of England (UWE). One of the projects it is closely involved

with is the Bloodhound project and the attempt to build a vehicle that will reach a land speed record of 1,000mph. The university has been running a number

of workshops for students which involves the Bloodhound project and in one such activity, students were asked to predict mathematically the performance requirements to achieve the record. Recently Diploma students attended a day

of engineering-based activities and workshops at the UWE. One, entitled Nerves of Steel, asked learners to consider how steel behaved in construction and its thermal and sound energies under different stresses. Another looked at the possible uses of

an underwater robot, while a Scrapheap Challenge exercise, based on the television programme, required students to use different materials to construct wheels that would allow a vehicle to successfully climb up steps. Part of the day also included employer-led

workshops. One such activity, designed and led by the NHS, involved students drawing and building a control circuit. Another, staged by Airbus, asked learners to design the best cabin layout for its super jumbo, the A380. However, students had to bear in mind the

need to maximise revenues against ensuring passengers had a comfortable flight. Mr Rose said: “The university has a strong

engineering department so its involvement is one way of widening participation. There is a big engineering infrastructure around Bristol and employers work closely with the UWE on graduate and post-graduate research.”

Parag Bhatt, Student of the Year

A career in aeronautical engineering probably awaits Parag Bhatt. The gifted 16-year-old pupil from Downend School in Bristol made the most of his work placements at Airbus and Rolls Royce, which have all but convinced him of his future plans. Parag, who won the Student of the Year

accolade in this year’s National Delivering Diplomas Awards, is a keen advocate of the Engineering Diploma, and has been praised by his teachers for his commitment and enthusiasm for the subject, and his ability to “keep going until he has seen things through”. This was reflected in his perseverance to

gain valuable experience by attending his work placement at Rolls Royce during his Easter holidays. He explained: “They weren’t able to take me when I originally hoped, but they later got in touch and offered me a week which coincided with the Easter holidays. I didn’t mind because of the excellent experience it gave me.” During his week there, Parag saw work

being done on the Adour engine, which is being manufactured for the Hawk military

Secrets of

aircraft, as well as other military engines which are still in the prototype stage of development. He was also given a tour of the Rolls Royce plant. “I worked on carrying out pressure tests and

putting on nuts and bolts. I observed what the experts were doing and worked on the same engine every day,” he said. At Airbus, meanwhile, Parag was

assigned to carrying out tasks relating to the manufacture of the wings on the A400M, which is also a military aeroplane. “My favourite aspect of this work was the

metrology, which was measuring the wing to ensure each component was in the correct position,” he said. “I wasn’t involved in the manufacturing

aspects but I looked at some of the processes involved. “Seeing this sort of work at first hand and

having this experience on the practical side made me realise how people take for granted the engineering involved in putting together an aircraft. Most people just get on a plane and don’t give a second thought to how it flies or what gets it into the air.” For his Extended Project, Parag has

investigated safety issues relating to the Airbus A380, the largest commercial aeroplane currently in use and capable of carrying up to 525 passengers. He added: “I have always been interested

in aeronautical engineering, but these work placements have helped me to make my decision that this is what I want to do.”

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