Engineering and aviation students helping to plug skills gaps
Engineering and aviation students from Telford College are helping to deliver skills which are desperately needed by local employers.
They include Callum Parr, 19, from Madeley, who is described as a ‘great ambassador for the college’ and a real success story.
The former Telford Langley School student joined the college in 2018 on a level one course before working his way onto level two, and then returning as an apprentice.
Rob Lees, Telford College’s director of engineering and aviation, said: “Callum has carried out ambassadorial work for the college, having represented us at numerous events including radio broadcasts.
“He now represents his company, i2r Packaging Solutions, as an apprenticeship ambassador and attends events on their behalf to extol the virtues of engineering and apprenticeship programmes.”
Tomek Maczka, 18, also from Madeley, is a former student of William Brookes School in Much Wenlock who enrolled on the college’s level two aviation course in 2020 which he completed alongside functional skills qualifications.
He is now making good progress on the level three aviation course, where Rob said: “He has matured and grown as a student and shows much more confidence.
“He is showing some entrepreneurial skills by designing and marketing his own clothing range.”
Former Hadley Learning Community student Rachel McFarlane, 18, from Stirchley, began on a level two engineering course and is now in the final year of her extended diploma.
She won the best student award for engineering in 2020-21, achieving very high grades in her level two and level three foundation diploma courses.
Rob said: “She is a very pleasant student who gets on well with her peers and teaching staff. She has been a class representative, and represents the college well in everything she does.”
Another award-winner is level three student Rheon Paul, 17, from St Georges, a former Holy Trinity Academy student who was named student of the year for the college’s aviation section last year.
Rob said: “From the outset he has shown high academic ability coupled with a fantastic attitude towards learning.”
