Today the British automotive manufacturer and distributor, Vauxhall announced plans to partner with University Technical Colleges (UTCs) through the donation of specialist equipment to Silverstone UTC and the growing network of technical secondary schools across the country. The equipment includes a Vauxhall Vivaro pre-production vehicle, gearboxes and engines.
Cherie Denton, Vauxhall’s Community Coordinator said,
“Vauxhall were so impressed with Silverstone UTC’s track record that we decided to donate a large amount of educational material to support the students.
“We have not long launched our new Vauxhall Vivaro and one of our pre-production vehicles had come to the end of its use for testing. It’s one of Vauxhall’s current models, so will be an excellent learning tool for the students. The engines and gearboxes will be distributed to the different colleges so that as many schools as possible can benefit from a hands-on learning experience.”
UTCs are technical secondary schools for 14 to 18 year olds, offering a broad curriculum combining academic education with technical and practical learning. They use the latest equipment and technology to provide an environment where students can thrive while developing skills employers are looking for.
Silverstone UTC will use the Vivaro van to showcase the huge variety of materials and production processes used in an automotive application, as well as to help the engineering students identify critical components for particular applications, such as longitudinal members for crash energy absorption. The components will be distributed across the UTC network to be used for similar uses.
Chair of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, Lord Baker added,
“UTCs were developed in response to skills demanded by employers so it is really encouraging to see partnerships like this emerging and such high profile support for the UTC programme. The equipment generously donated by Vauxhall will give a new generation of engineers the chance to get their hands on the latest automotive technology.
“We are delighted to have the support of Vauxhall. UTCs also partner with UK industry to offer experiences of work, real life challenges, and shaping the curriculum through their leadership on UTC governing boards.”
Beth, a student from Silverstone UTC said: “I think it’s great that Vauxhall are donating equipment to UTCs. It’s the relationships with employers that attracted me to study at a UTC and it sets them apart from other schools. I like finding out how things work and you can’t get this kind of experience sitting in a classroom watching a DVD or reading a text book. This kind of experience will really help me in my future career as I will have hands on experience to back up my classroom learning.”
More than 600 employers support UTCs including Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Network Rail and Microsoft, as well as scores of small and medium sized businesses. Together with nearly 50 universities they contribute their knowledge as well as offering opportunities to experience the world of work.
