UTC Swindon, the university technical college that opened this week, launches its student recruitment campaign for next year this weekend by highlighting the town’s industrial heritage and showcasing one of its modern, innovative businesses.
Joining the UTC’s stand at the Swindon Railway Festival at STEAM will be Stuart Holland, director of Thermographic Consultancy, the Swindon-based thermal imaging specialist.
Stuart has in-depth technical knowledge of power supplies for industrial, commercial and domestic structures. A former apprentice, he understands the value of building a strong foundation and learning the skills needed to get a foothold in the engineering and manufacturing industries.
At the event Stuart will demonstrate a custom-built, 1,015mm diameter octocopter, designed to carry small, lightweight high-definition cameras, as well as having thermal imaging capabilities.
The octocopter is flown from a bespoke ground operating station using piloting skill and complex onboard algorithms. The device, which uses GPS, can also follow pre-programmed flight paths.
Stuart said: “I would not have enjoyed the career I have without the launch pad my apprenticeship gave me. I believe, however, that I would have advanced faster in the early stages of my career had UTC Swindon been here when I was studying. It’s so exciting to see the engineering culture return to Swindon and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with young, aspiring engineers.”
UTC Swindon principal Angela Barker-Dench added: “The Swindon Railway Festival 2014 encompasses the heritage of the town. The event gives us the opportunity to meet young people and their parents and discuss the great learning opportunities available at UTC Swindon.”
Thermographic Consultancy provides comprehensive surveys of electrical or mechanical installation for predictive maintenance regimes. The company also offers inspections to assess thermal efficiency and identify areas of costly energy loss.
The UTC, which opened to its first intake of students on Monday, will cater for 600 students aged 14 to 19, providing courses for young people who aspire to a career in engineering. The college, based in former GWR workshop, provides opportunities to gain the necessary skills across all the diverse sectors of the engineering industries.
The Swindon Railway Festival 2014 takes place at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway tomorrow and Sunday.
