Diploma for 14 to 19-year-olds
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3rd Mar 2010
Norwich bright sparks urged to make it big in manufacturing
More students in Norwich are being encouraged to sign up for the second year of an exciting new qualification that will give them the chance to work with top companies in the manufacturing sector.
As part of Manufacturing Week (March 1-5), leading employers are urging budding young entrepreneurs, engineers, technologists and design specialists to find out more about The Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD), which began delivery in Norwich last September.
The Diploma in MPD offers 14 to 19-year-olds the chance to work with leading manufacturing companies, and gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, while developing skills in areas such as business, enterprise, engineering and product design.
A total of 13 students from Notre Dame High School, City of Norwich School, Framingham Earl High School, City Academy Norwich, the Hewett High School and Wayland Community High School have been taking the course this year. They have been able to work with the likes of plastics company M&H, retailer John Lewis and local jewellery company Sonkai. It is now being rolled out in other schools across the city, giving more students a chance to get involved.
One group of Diploma in MPD students from Norwich has also been to the national finals of the F1 in Schools competition which sees teams of teenagers from around the country compete to design and engineer the best fully functional model F1 car.
Julian McKay, who is teaching the Diploma in MPD at Notre Dame School in Norwich, says the demands of working with companies to industry standards have both stimulated and challenged the students.
“It is an excellent qualification,” said Mr McKay. “The intellectual demands have exceeded my expectations. The students learn as much about what it is like to run a business, sell and market products, as they do about the technical engineering-focused side of the sector. Furthermore, there is a lot of room for creativity, the students really have to think for themselves and learn how to work together in teams.”
Manufacturing Week is being organised by trade body the EEF. A series of events around the country promoting the sector will culminate on Friday with the publication of a manifesto outlining a strategy for putting the UK’s manufacturing industry at the heart of efforts to rebuild the economy, which will include careers promotion, education and training.
Nigel Fletcher, Education & Skills Adviser at the EEF, said: “There are a huge number of career opportunities at all levels within manufacturing, and young people should be given every encouragement to take advantage of them. The new Diploma in MPD is an important development, which will help many talented individuals get the skills they need to succeed in this sector. The demand from employers for better-qualified staff means the rewards can be considerable for those who make the right choices.”
Teacher, Mr McKay said he would welcome more business partners signing up for the second year. “The businesses involved have tended to come from word of mouth or through friends of people. We would like to have more on board next year.”
The Diploma in MPD is one of 14 new Diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds developed to sit alongside GCSEs and A-Levels. It offers a fully rounded education designed to give hands-on experience in and develop essential skills relevant to manufacturing.
Employers play a direct role by giving presentations in schools, hosting site visits, setting project topics, mentoring students and offering work placements. Their involvement is key to students getting a realistic insight into what manufacturing is all about.
As well as providing a good foundation for young people wanting to work in manufacturing, the course also helps youngsters develop general workplace skills.
For more information, visit the website for the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design, at www.manufacturingdiploma.co.uk/, or contact Norwich City Council at www.norwich.gov.uk. To find out more about Manufacturing Week, visit www.lovemanufacturing.co.uk.
Issued on behalf of the Manufacturing Diploma Development Partnership, by Nexnet PR, Leeds, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Nexnet on 0113 247 0029 or email joanne.mead@nexnet.co.uk or paul.newham@nexnet.co.uk.
Note to editors
The Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design was developed by employers and covers three main themes, which are business and enterprise, product design and materials science, and production systems. Students are assessed on competency in English, maths and ICT, while additional and specialist learning options give students the chance to develop their particular interests by taking specialist courses relating to specific manufacturing sub-sectors. The flexible nature of the Diploma in MPD means that it can also be undertaken alongside other qualifications such as A-levels and GCSEs. Depending on the level and pathways followed, the Diploma in MPD will prepare young people for employment, to undertake an Apprenticeship, or to go into Further or Higher Education.
The Diploma is available at three levels. Foundation level is targeted at 14 to 16-year-olds and is equivalent to five GCSEs; higher is for 16 and 17-year-olds and is equivalent to seven GCSEs; and advanced is equivalent to three-and-a-half A-levels and is targeted at 18 and 19-year-olds.
