www.engineeringdiploma.com

helping staff teaching the Diploma to promote the qualification to pupils and parents. This has been done by having a consistent

and dedicated point of contact, through Mr Austin, who regularly supports and attends open evenings and career fayres. This visible support by a major local employer gives the Diploma a level of credibility it might not otherwise enjoy, and shows industry confidence in what is still a relatively new qualification. Mr Towriess said this, combined with delivery of some of the curriculum by BAE staff, had contributed hugely to the success and popularity of the Diploma in Engineering. Mr Austin agreed that the physical presence

of a company representative left an impression on parents and young people considering the Diploma. “Parents are generally positive and it is helped by a big company such as this taking an interest in it,” he said. A further benefit to Engineering Diploma

students in this consortium will be added this year with BAE’s recent announcement that Level 2 will be an accepted alternative to the previous requirement of five A* to C grade GCSE passes for entry to its apprenticeship scheme. The company offers an information session for Diploma students giving hints and tips on their apprenticeship applications too. Kerry Woods, of LG Create, a Norfolk-

based company that produces resources for Engineering Diploma delivery, has worked with the consortium on developing learning materials and said the success of the Diploma in Chorley and South Ribble was the focus on learning. “Mr Towriess has successfully exploited

aspects such as employer engagement to change the way that students are taught and has used the Diploma as a catalyst for change,” she said. “This has created a focus on learning rather

than teaching to a given criteria and gives meaning to what can otherwise be a difficult subject for young people to grasp.” But what is in it for a company such as

BAE? Mr Austin said the organisation’s

involvement formed part of its corporate responsibility and a genuine desire to encourage young people into engineering. “We want learners to consider the subject

and to think of engineering and manufacturing as a career of choice,” he said. “There is still a big selling job that needs to be done because many young people don’t know what engineering involves, or have an inaccurate impression that it is about being a mechanic and lying under a car. “We hope this Diploma will help to promote

the subject. By having an input into the content and delivery, we also know that when we advertise our apprenticeships we will be getting a high calibre of applicants who will already have a great insight into the industry.” He added: “When we talk to students in

schools we tell them that doing a Diploma will not guarantee them a job here, but it will certainly give them an edge because they will have some prior knowledge about our business and our products, which will be a good preparation for the recruitment process. “We are confident that the Diploma in Engineering is a good qualification.”

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