Major local employers in marine, environmental and engineering industries are backing a new college for 14 to 18 year olds interested in science, technology, engineering, maths and computing. Students across Sussex can find out more about studying at UTC@harbourside and the careers it could lead to at taster events in January and February.
Current Year 9 or Year 11 pupils and their parents are invited to meet the Principal Designate, Jonathan Clarke, and learn about the curriculum and the kind of employer-led projects that will be at the heart of it.
UTC@harbourside, at Railway Quay, Newhaven, will offer an outstanding academic and technical education focused on science, engineering, technology, maths and computing. It will specialise in the skills in demand from the growing marine engineering and environmental technology sectors in the region.
Applications are open now for students wishing to join at the start of their GCSE courses at age 14, and for post 16 courses starting in September 2015.
Brightwell Dispensers, the largest employer in Newhaven, will host two events in January:
Tuesday 20th January 6-8pm & Saturday 31st January 11am-1pm
Brightwell Dispensers Ltd, Unit 9, Euro Business Park, Estate Road, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 0DQ
Brightwell use high tech injection-moulding, computer aided design, robotics and digital technology to design and produce state-of-the art products.
University of Brighton, one of the college’s sponsors, will also host two events in February at its Eastbourne campus:
Thursday 12th Feb 6-8pm
Room G14, Hillbrow, 1 Denton Road, Eastbourne, BN20 7SR
Saturday 21st Feb 11am – 1pm
Greynore Hall (Room G12),Greynore 1, 48 Darley Road, Eastbourne, BN20 7UT.
University staff will be at all events to offer a taste of the academic environment and future options studying at UTC@harbourside will open up. As well as engineering or environmental careers it will equip students with essential skills for fields as diverse as life sciences, architecture, IT or the media.
UTC@harbourside is also sponsored by Lewes District Council, Veolia Environmental Services and education charity, the Aldridge Foundation.
Veolia will be one of the employers talking about careers in science and engineering. At their stand students will be able to see videos about the local integrated waste management facilities and talk to managers about Veolia’s activities in waste, water and energy.
The Armed Forces will be at the January events to demonstrate the many ways STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) are used in the forces, from medicine and veterinary care to high tech electronics.
Other employers supporting UTC@harbourside include:
- E.On and EDF, two of the UK’s leading energy companies. E.On is developing the operations base for the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm in Newhaven, a stone’s throw from the college
- Boat builders Lochin Marine - a leading maker of lifeboats and police patrol boats - Newbury Engineering and Sutton Workboats
- Newhaven Port and Properties and Shoreham Port Authority
- Infacom, specialists in digital presentation equipment and networks for schools and businesses
- Screen Solutions, winner of two awards in the Lewes District Business Awards 2014, Europe’s largest independent manufacturer of workplace screens, partitions and acoustic baffles
- CTEC Energy which designs and builds heat recovery systems to generate power from waste.
Jonathan Clarke, Principal Designate of UTC@harbourside said, “Young people and parents can get a real flavour at these taster events of what it’ll be like to study at UTC@harbourside and hear from employers how important an understanding of science, engineering and related subjects is in a wide range of different jobs and industries. I’m delighted so many local employers are ready to create projects so our students can apply their learning in real-life scenarios and, as a result, have a much better chance of achieving their full potential.
Allan Key, General Manager of Veolia South Downs said, “The UK must do more to encourage students to get involved in STEM careers and events like this open up new horizons to students interested in this area. At Veolia we have a range of opportunities across the business and students will be surprised when they find out what opportunities could be in store for them at an environmental solutions company.”
For details and to register for any events see http://www.utc-harbourside.org/events. You do not have to register for the open evenings but it will be helpful if you do.