Up-and-coming Engineers from Bolton College saw their learning come to life, when they were invited to tour British Aerospace’s Academy for Skills & Knowledge.

A team of Engineering Level 3 students travelled down to the £15 million facility in Samlesbury, Lancashire, home of world-class training and education for the UK aerospace industry.

The students gained access to state-of-the-art equipment, used to engineer and manufacture some of the most advanced technologies in the world.

BAE Systems is Britain’s biggest manufacturer, employing 83 thousand people worldwide and producing an array of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology and support services.

Many of the students have aspirations to join BAE Systems, using the skills they have gained in Bolton College’s STEM Centre to pursue careers within the company, from Naval Architect to Project Planner. There are also opportunities to join the Apprenticeship scheme, with 200 apprentices recruited annually by the Military Air & Information branch of the business.

Peter Walsh, who has studied at Bolton College for two years said, “I chose Engineering at College as I want to become an Electrical/Electronic Design Engineer. It was great to see some of the things we’ve discussed and learnt in class up close. Our tutor Gibson previously worked for British Aerospace, so he’d already told us a lot about the company. The visit was a real eye-opener and confirmed that when I finish here, my future definitely lies in Engineering”.  

Gibson Jeremie, Curriculum Leader for Engineering at Bolton College added, “We always try to bring our learning to life, and what better way than a tour of one of the top Engineering training facilities in the country. The students were fascinated by the trip, it proved to be very inspiring and we are grateful to BAE Systems for the invitation.” 

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