BUSINESS NEWS
produce the country’s next generation of engineers, through a partnership with schools, colleges and universities in the city. The aim of the project is to focus on
Partnership producing engineers E
BY PHILIP PARKIN
ngineering and programme management company CH2M, which has an office in Birmingham, is helping to
Action station: How the National College for High Speed Rail will look
promoting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects and careers in the engineering sector. The partnership extends to organisations
such as Teach First, an educational charity that helps support the provision of high quality STEM teachers in low-income communities.
‘The need for skilled engineers in the UK hasn’t been higher’
A number of initiatives have already taken place, including staff from CH2M’s Birmingham office joining with Teach First to host guest teacher sessons and a ‘Careers’ Insight Day’ for one of Birmingham’s inner city schools, Heartlands Academy. The aim of this was to highlight opportunities available to school leavers in the coming years. The Academy, which is located right next to the terminus of HS2, the proposed
high speed rail link to London, saw CH2M provide guest lessons to year 12 students. These gave an insight into the day-to-day
life of an engineer working on a major project such as HS2. Students were tasked with a challenge which simulated a real life tender situation, requiring teams to work together to build a model railway and submit their work according to the tender specification, incurring bonus points for early completion and penalties for failing to meet the criteria. The college, which will open its doors in
September 2017 for its first intake of students, will be the first of its kind – alongside
Doncaster – to provide specialist training for high speed rail engineers in the UK. CH2M’s Joanna Mole said: “CH2M was
delighted to have been involved in this important event at Heartlands Academy. With major infrastructure projects like HS2 just around the corner the need for skilled engineers in the UK hasn’t been higher. “Coming into schools like this is fantastic
and it is so encouraging to see students and teachers really get behind some of the initiatives provided to help create a strong pipeline of high skilled jobs for young people in Birmingham and the West Midlands.”
A great year for family fun
The Fat Controller – welcoming visitors to Drayton Manor’s Thomas Land
Award-winning Drayton Manor Theme Park has celebrated the end of a record breaking 65th anniversary season – with a ten per cent increase in visitors compared to 2014. Chief executive Colin Bryan, said:
“Last year was a truly momentous year for the Bryan family and all of the staff here. Now we’re really looking forward to another fantastic year in 2016.” Drayton Manor’s 65th
anniversary year kicked off with a £2.5 million expansion of Europe’s only Thomas Land, welcoming a host of new rides and attractions. Following a successful summer,
16 CHAMBERLINK FEBRUARY 2016
the much loved family attraction hit a record attendance for its Fireworks Spectacular weekend, welcoming nearly 33,000 visitors over three days at the end of October. To top it all off, the season ended with another record breaking attendance during its Magical Christmas event. This year also marks the five year
anniversary of the opening of the hugely popular onsite four-star Drayton Manor Hotel. To book tickets, visit
www.draytonmanor.co.uk or call 0844 472 1950. Reduced prices are available for tickets bought in advance.
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