The team behind Porsche Centre Hull have helped a Ron Dearing UTC student grow in confidence and set her sights on a social media marketing career.

Year 13 student Lily Knight completed a three-day work experience placement at Porsche Centre Hull in Hessle, one of the UTC’s Major Partners.

She shadowed the front of house team and immersed herself in the social media marketing side of the business as she aspires to secure an apprenticeship or paid work in the sector when she leaves the UTC this summer.

Abbie Jackson, Digital Marketing and Events Manager at Porsche Centre Hull, said: “Lily was really keen to get involved with front of house and share ideas with the team to create social media content for the dealership.

“After a couple of days shadowing the team, Lily soon built up confidence to answer phone calls, greet customers and complete admin tasks. She started as a showroom host at the beginning of the week before moving to different departments within the business to see how they work together.

 

“Lily had a really positive experience with us and soon became part of the team. She was keen to help out with dealership events outside of her work experience and popped by to say hello, which shows the impact the experience had on Lily.”

Abbie said work experience is vital to give young people a true insight into the world of work.

She said: “We believe hands-on experience is so important for young adults because it helps to build motivation and confidence which is vital before moving on to further education or into the workplace.

“We’ll continue to take on as many work experience students as possible. We want them to experience all departments to give them a good overview of working life.”

Lily, 18, who is studying Photography and Creative Digital at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “I shadowed the showroom hosts on the front desk, listened while they answered the phones so I could then do the same and transferred calls to the right place.

“I greeted and made tea and coffee for customers, created videos of the cars for social media and marketing and drafted social media posts in line with the brand.

“It was a great placement and I really enjoyed it. I was offered further work but I needed to concentrate on my studies first.

“The placement helped me to realise I’d like to work in social media marketing and I like talking to people. I got a real insight into the day-to-day running of the business.”

Other Ron Dearing UTC students also completed work experience in the automotive side of the business at Porsche Centre Hull.

Lisa Regan, Assistant Principal – Horizons Professionalism at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “Lily thoroughly enjoyed her time with the team at Porsche Centre Hull and clearly learnt a great deal during her placement, which is wonderful to see.

“The fact Porsche wanted to bring Lily back for some additional work alongside her studies is testament to the impression she made on them during her work experience placement.

“We’re looking forward to working with the team at Porsche centre Hull to offer similar opportunities to some of our other students in the future.”

Ron Dearing UTC students are now securing work experience placements for this summer. Businesses that would like to offer opportunities are asked to email Lisa Regan via lregan@rondearingutc.com

A Ron Dearing UTC sixth form student has helped design marketing material for Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub during a two-week work experience placement.

Harrison McLaughlin, 17, completed the placement, working on a brochure to promote the business to corporate clients.

Linsey Brown, Head of Partnerships at C4DI, one of the UTC’s Major Partners, and Tina Swann, C4DI’s Community Engagement Manager, said they were impressed by Harrison’s approach to the placement and response to the brief they set for him.

Linsey said: “Ron Dearing UTC students are so mature and have great confidence when they leave school, which ensures they’re work-ready.

“Harrison went through an interview process for his work experience placement, so it felt more formal and enabled him to sample what it’s like when applying for a job. We treated him as a member of the team for the whole placement and he was so enthusiastic.

 

“We’d definitely consider taking on one or more Ron Dearing students for work experience in the future, looking at mini projects and tasks at C4DI.”

Year 13 student Harrison, who is studying Maths and Physics at Ron Dearing UTC, will be acknowledged in the marketing material when it is printed.

Harrison said: “It was a great two-week placement during the summer holidays and kept me busy doing something I’d never tried before.

“I spoke to various business owners at C4DI about my future and what I wanted to do when I leave the UTC, which helped me to network with lots of people.

“I enjoyed choosing the colours for the marketing material and designing it to ensure it keeps the reader’s attention for longer. I learnt a lot and I would 100% recommend C4DI for work experience.”

Lisa Regan, Assistant Principal – Horizons Professionalism at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This was the first time C4DI took on a Ron Dearing UTC student for a work experience placement and it worked brilliantly.

“Harrison loved working on their corporate client marketing brochure, managing the product from start to finish with various members of the team.

“This was a step outside of Harrison’s usual comfort zone and he said it helped him to become more confident in the knowledge he is skilled in a wider range of areas than his current academic focus.”

Ron Dearing UTC students are now securing work experience placements for this summer. Businesses that would like to offer opportunities are asked to email Lisa Regan via lregan@rondearingutc.com

A Ron Dearing UTC student who aspires to become an architect says work experience with a Hull-based architecture company has opened her eyes to a world of possibilities.

Jess Sanderson completed a three-week placement at Studio Six Architecture.

The company, based in Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub in the heart of the city’s Fruit Market, provides unique and sustainable architecture and creative designs for homes and businesses.

Matt Riley, Director at Studio Six, said: “It was the first time we’d offered work experience to a Ron Dearing UTC student and Jess was great.

“We interviewed eight students who were all very good and they demonstrated their excellent 3D modelling and engineering skills. We immediately knew Jess was very artistic and also excellent in a customer-facing role.

 

“We gave her some marketing tasks to complete and she came up with various ways we could improve our online and social media presence, so we were able to learn from her too.”

Matt said providing work experience opportunities to young people is imperative as they make decisions about their next steps.

He said: “When I was at school, I was told you couldn’t do an apprenticeship in architecture even though that was the path I wanted to take. I managed to do it anyway and I want to provide that opportunity to other young people.

“You don’t have to follow conventional routes in architecture and you can work for a few years first to see if you like it, or see which area you’d like to specialise in.

“We were as honest as possible with Jess about what’s involved in the day-to-day job because it’s not just about drawing pretty pictures.

“Jess was very enthusiastic, punctual and keen to learn. We would consider further opportunities for Ron Dearing UTC students in the future.”

Jess, 17, who is studying Art and Design and Creative Digital in Year 13 at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The placement was amazing and the Studio Six team couldn’t have been any more welcoming and helpful.

 

“They showed me so much and took me on a visit to see what they do when they’re measuring up in people’s homes.

“I completed drawings, write-ups and learnt more about heritage statements, which are needed when you have to ask the council for permission to make certain changes to homes.

“I loved every moment of the placement and I found out more about the technology and software used in the industry. I learnt a lot and it will be great to include on my CV.”

Lisa Regan, Assistant Principal – Horizons Professionalism at Ron Dearing UTC said: “The architecture placement was a very popular one for our students and Matt also offered advice support to the students he wasn’t able to provide a placement for.

“Applicants were asked to interview at C4DI and took along a few examples of work such as drawings, 3D models and sketches.

“It was a brilliant experience for Jess and one which will help her as she plans for her future.”

Ron Dearing UTC students are now securing work experience placements for this summer. Businesses that would like to offer opportunities are asked to email Lisa Regan via lregan@rondearingutc.com

Almost 40 English and Creative students from Ron Dearing UTC visited Berlin as part of an inspiring trip to support their studies.

The 37 Year 10, 12 and 13 students and five staff flew from Birmingham via Amsterdam for the four-day trip, which included visiting the Brandenburg Gate, the Topography of Terror history museum, various war memorials and museums, Checkpoint Charlie and art galleries.

The English students are currently reading and studying The Handmaid’s Tale and Berlin is where the author, Margaret Atwood, wrote most of the popular novel.

Jack Campbell, Head of English at Ron Dearing UTC, said the author’s observations whilst living in West Berlin during the Cold War inspired her construction of the totalitarian state of Gilead. She drew inspiration from the control imposed on citizens under Soviet control, such as Checkpoint Charlie, to create the book.

The novel is based on some of the darkest parts of human history and the opportunity for Ron Dearing UTC students to explore Berlin brought parts of the book to life.

 

Jack said: “It was fantastic to see our students engaging in mature discussions around the context of the novel and applying these discussions to the text.”

The Creative, Photography, Fine Art and 3D Design students took inspiration from art galleries including Berlinische Galerie, Konig Galerie, East Side Gallery, Hamburger Bahnhof and Neue  Nationalgalerie.

Lynn Garland-Collins, Director of Creativity at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The students were amazing and got so much from the trip.

“This was our first international creative visit and everything went really well. We organised a photography competition on the last night and the students will be able to bring everything they saw and learnt back to school to support their studies.”

Year 12 student Matthew Bestley, 17, who is studying Fine Art, 3D Design, Graphics and Digital Media, said: “I took so much inspiration from the art galleries and culture in Berlin.

 

“I’d love to be an artist in the future, or go into animation and graphic design. This trip encouraged and supported that. It was a great experience.”

Fellow Year 12 student Taylor Beaden, 17, who is studying Photography, Graphics and 3D Design, said: “It was an amazing trip and a brilliant opportunity to see and appreciate so much art.

“The trip helped me to grow in confidence with meeting new people and it opened my eyes to understand more about art. I didn’t realise Berlin is such an artistic place. I loved it.”

Year 12 student Fearne Hepworth, 17, who is studying England Language and Literature, Art and 3D Design, added: “We saw the Berlin Cathedral and the visuals inspired our artwork, and we visited the Jewish Museum as part of our English work.

“Visiting Berlin helped me to understand more about The Handmaid’s Tale and what inspired the author. I’m really pleased Ron Dearing UTC offered us this opportunity.”

Ron Dearing UTC students have been crowned regional champions in the world’s largest Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition for the third consecutive year.

Ron Racing went head-to-head with 19 other teams from schools and colleges to take pole position in the regional finals in the F1 in Schools challenge at the National STEM Learning Centre in York.

The team, comprising of Year 13 students Heidi Porter, Harry Tyler, Jasper Gourley, Elliot Johnson and Will Jones, also won the award for Best Pit Display.

They will now go on to compete in the national finals at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Sheffield on March 14 and 15.

 

Heidi, 17, who is studying Triple Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC’s sixth form and would like to pursue an engineering-based career, said: “We had a great day at the regional finals. We put in a lot of hard work but there were lots of other very good teams, so we didn’t expect to win.

“It’s been a really good experience and I’ve learnt lots from it. We met people from lots of different companies, my communication skills have improved and I’ve learnt a lot more about engineering.

“It will be a big step up from the regional finals but I’m looking forward to the nationals and we’re ready for it.”

Harry, 17, who is studying Double Engineering and Physics at the UTC, hopes to become a Formula 1 aerodynamicist in the future.

He said: “Winning was the most exciting part of the regional finals, closely followed by sending the car down the track.

“Being part of F1 in Schools has helped with my public speaking and confidence and also improved my Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills.

“It’s a great stepping stone to get into the F1 industry and it’s brilliant to have on your CV if you want to go down that route.”

This is the third consecutive year Ron Dearing UTC students have entered the development class of competition and secured the top spot.

Previous Ron Dearing teams included Mach Racing and Vortex Racing and various awards were secured, from Lightening Reaction Time and Star Quality: Verbal Presentation, to Team Identity and Sponsorship and Marketing.

The F1 in Schools challenge sees more than one million schoolchildren from 40 countries take part each year. Each team designs and manufactures a miniature car based on the official F1 model using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM).

The cars are powered using CO₂ cartridges and are attached to a 25m track by a nylon wire and raced. The teams also design their own branding and logos, plan social media and marketing strategies to promote themselves, deliver presentations and raise sponsorship for their teams.

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal – Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, and Cieran Dowling, the UTC’s F1 in Schools Coordinator, are supporting Ron Racing throughout their F1 in Schools journey.

 

Porsche Centre Hull, a Major Partner of the employer-led school, is the team’s official sustainable partner and donated two Porsche Taycan electric sports cars to transport the team to and from York, offsetting their carbon footprint.

The business also hosts regular fundraising events for the teams, enabling them to showcase their work and pitch their ideas to potential sponsors at the Porsche showroom in Hessle.

 

Glenn said: “We’re so proud of the Ron Racing team and these accolades are testament to all the hard work they have put in over the past 18 months as they worked towards the regional finals.

“They have really put themselves out there, presenting pitches to our governing board, potential sponsors and working with the team at Porsche Centre Hull to ensure they approached everything in the most sustainable way possible.

“Their pit stand was outstanding and really stood out from the crowd. The judges were highly impressed by their engineering portfolio and everything they’ve done to make their team a success.

“It’s fantastic to see how our students have put their mark on this global competition and we wish them every success for the nationals next month.”

Ron Dearing UTC students have secured jobs at school to earn money and develop new skills alongside their studies.

Fourteen Year 11, 12 and 13 students now receive bursaries as payment for being IT assistants, site assistants and attendance runners, and complete their jobs on a weekly basis.

The opportunity enables the students to manage their school diaries and timetables while earning £5 per hour in their jobs.

IT assistants check laptops and recycle components where necessary, carry out equipment checks, complete software updates and report any damages. Site assistants support with recycling throughout the school, refill stationery and printers and maintain the outdoor green planted areas.

Attendance runners support the Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 attendance team for three hours per week, helping with admin, delivering letters and checking teachers take registers on time. They also learn the importance of punctuality.

 

Year 13 student Charlie Pepper, 18, the site assistant responsible for recycling, said taking on a paid role for five hours per week has helped him to grow in confidence. The level of recycling at the UTC has doubled since he started.

Charlie, who is studying Double Engineering and A-level Maths in Ron Dearing UTC’s sixth form, said: “I always get up early and arrive at 7.45am, ready to put my gloves on and empty the recycling bins of paper, plastic and cans.

“It’s a great starting point for a part-time job and it’s helping me to add to my CV and personal statement in my university application. I talk to a lot of people, I’ve made new friends and I really enjoy it.”

Fellow Year 13 student Skylar Dawson, 18, has been employed as a site assistant for more than a year and is responsible for everything from planting up the UTC’s bee and butterfly friendly herbaceous borders to refilling stationery for seven hours per week.

Skylar, who is studying Chemistry and Double Engineering in the UTC’s sixth form, also supports Year 11 engineering students who are studying courses she has previously completed, sitting in lessons to answer any peer-to-peer questions.

 

She said: “I’ve met a lot of students and staff through my work and it helps you to get used to working and earning some money.

“It’s fun and a great thing to do alongside studying because I’m helping to make a difference in the environment I’m also learning in. It’s a really good responsibility to have.

“I enjoy planting and looking after the beds outside school and in Kingston Square opposite our building.”

Students complete an interview process before they are offered the roles, enabling them to experience applying for a job and gain interview techniques.

Year 12 student Edward Tevenan, 16, works six hours per week as a site and IT assistant while studying Maths, Physics and Double Engineering in the UTC’s sixth form.

 

Edward said: “I always thought going to work would be boring but I’m really enjoying it. I arrive early and get on with it and it’s satisfying to know I’ve done a good job. That’s what motivates me.

“I empty the bins, top up the classroom supplies, refill printer paper and check the laptops are charged and working correctly. It’s good to play a part in keeping the school well maintained.

“These are all transferable skills for maintenance jobs in engineering, as I’m looking at an engineering apprenticeship in the future. It’s also nice to have money in my pocket and feel independent.”

Hugh Boughton, Operations Manager at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The students are doing a fantastic job.

“We’ve offered these paid opportunities for a while and the roles have evolved over the years. The students learn really quickly, they’re very communicative, we train them to multi-task and it enables them to learn different skills.

“From a future employer perspective, these are great attributes to have and it shows the students have made great use of their time.”

A leading company which specialises in non-destructive testing (NDT), inspection and engineering has taken on another former Ron Dearing UTC student, adding to its workforce from the school for the third consecutive year.

IRISNDT has employed Jack Macmillan, 19, as a full time Trainee NDT Technician and he will complete the necessary qualifications at a training school in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, over the next 18 months.

The company is an international blend of asset integrity engineering and non-destructive testing (NDT) companies providing a range of engineering, inspection, testing, heat treatment and software services to the renewable, petro/chemical, oil/gas, utility and transportation industries across the globe.

It has 2,000 employees in Canada, Australia, the USA and the UK, including offices at Saltend Chemicals Park in Hull and in Immingham on the south bank of the Humber.

 

IRISNDT has taken on three former Ron Dearing UTC students as apprentices and two as trainee technicians over three years, including Jack.

Jack, who studied Triple Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “I’m based in radiography and I’m shadowing qualified radiographers and paired with a qualified technician, so I’m learning all the time.

“I saw this job advertised through Ron Dearing UTC and I was interested straight away. We use gamma or X-rays to see if there are any defects in pipes, so they’re safe to use on sites.

“It’s a great job and I love coming to work every day. I’ve also been able to travel, working on a tank farm in Bristol as part of a tank inspection team, as well as on sites locally.

“There are lots of opportunities here and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Emma Newton, General Manager at IRISNDT, said: “NDT is a really broad career and we’re delighted to partner with Ron Dearing UTC. It’s a fantastic school and the knowledge the students gain there is outstanding with lots of fantastic success stories as a result.

“The students arrive with a really good insight into the world of work, ready to hit the ground running, and they embrace every opportunity which comes their way. Jack has settled in really well.”

A former Ron Dearing UTC student says he is looking forward to a job for life after securing an apprenticeship with the UK’s leading shower manufacturer.

Spencer Kirby, 18, is an apprentice Electrical Maintenance Engineer at Mira Showers and works from their shower tray manufacturing site in Melton, East Yorkshire. Spencer is the first apprentice the company has taken on from the employer-led school.

Mira Showers, a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC, has been at the forefront of the shower market for more than a century, thanks to pioneering developments in technology.

 

Spencer, who studied A-level Physics and the Cambridge Technical Diploma in Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, studies at North Lindsey College in Scunthorpe one day per week as part of his apprenticeship, with the rest of the week spent working at Mira.

He said: “If I wasn’t a Ron Dearing UTC student I don’t think I would have had this opportunity. We had multiple mock interviews and CV training which helped to grow my confidence.

“I’m constantly learning and every day is different. University didn’t really appeal to me and I see this as a job for life.

“I arrive at 8.30am, go into the workshop and get my safety gear on before a walkaround for the daily checks. We follow a computerised maintenance schedule and I deal with breakdowns and smaller projects. I’m really enjoying it.”

Spencer’s apprenticeship was due to be completed over three years but industry-critical skills he gained at Ron Dearing UTC mean it can be completed in two years.

Iain Gillyon, Engineering Manager at Mira Showers, which is part of the global Kohler group, said: “Spencer has fitted in really well and we will potentially take on further apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC in the future.

“Most of our executive team came through the apprenticeship route. Employers have shifted their thinking and you can always study for a degree later on.

“The maturity level of an 18-year-old leaving Ron Dearing UTC is ahead of most 21-year-olds leaving university and that’s down to the UTC teaching style and learning environment.

“The UTC team understand our business and the type of skills we’re looking for, so it works well.”

Nine former Ron Dearing UTC students have begun their careers with global wind power leader Siemens Gamesa.

The company, a Founding Partner of Ron Dearing UTC, has employed seven apprentices from the school over the previous two years and a further nine Wind Turbine Technician apprentices this year, taking the total number of former UTC students employed since 2019 to 16.

This year’s intake are learning how to install offshore wind turbines across the globe in a three-and-a-half year Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician apprenticeship, with initial theory and practical training completed at the Humber Energy Skills Training Academy (HESTA) in west Hull.

The apprentices will then move on to various sites for further hands-on experience with the business’ service teams and have the opportunity to work in places as far flung such as Taiwan, Japan and the United States in the future.

 

Tabitha Argent, 18, who studied Double Engineering and Chemistry at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “I’m so proud to have this opportunity because I knew I wanted to work offshore since Year 10. The chance to travel with this job really appeals to me and I’d like to work my way up within the business.

“Everyone has been really welcoming and the training the business offers is excellent. I also like the challenge of it being a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“Being the only female apprentice shows it can be done and women can succeed in this industry just as much as men. I’m excited for the future.”

Isaac Blain, 18, who studied Maths, Physics and Single Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This apprenticeship is a really good mix of theory and practical learning and I’m gaining a good understanding of how the industry works.

“Travelling for work in the future will mean seeing the world, broadening my horizons and experiencing different cultures, which is a very attractive element of this apprenticeship.

“Working with the Ron Dearing UTC employer partners really helped to build relationships and think about career options.”

Lee Drury, Construction Operations Manager at Siemens Gamesa, said the students have settled in well and are enthusiastic and motivated.

He said: “They’re really keen to learn the electrical and mechanical skills they’ll need in the future.

“Eventually, they’ll be able to carry out all the completion works and operational checks when a wind turbine is installed at sea, ensuring all components work, the required software is in place for the turbine computers and carry out functional checks of electronic and hydraulic systems.

“We have a fantastic relationship with Ron Dearing UTC. Working for us is an excellent opportunity for the students because this is a growing industry and they can gain a qualification as an electrician while working within renewables.”

Students at Ron Dearing UTC met representatives from some of the region’s leading businesses at the school’s annual apprenticeship expo as they consider their next steps.

Sixteen founding and employer partners of the UTC set up information stands in the school’s conference centre before speaking to almost 300 students about careers, apprenticeships and opportunities available to them in industry.

Many of the UTC’s alumni, who are already succeeding in their chosen careers, returned to speak to current students, sharing their knowledge and expertise after following similar paths.

Current students were able to ask questions and meet the faces behind the businesses while gaining vital information ahead of apprenticeship and job applications.

 

Year 13 student Mason Creighton, 17, said: “The expo was really useful because I found out more about how apprenticeships work and lots of information about the different companies which attended.”

 

Year 12 student Ruby Ellis, 16, said: “The expo gave me a good insight into what opportunities are available to us. I really enjoyed it and it was great to meet so many different people.”

Mercy McFarlane, 18, a former RDUTC student now working as an Operations Engineering Apprentice at Founding Partner Smith+Nephew joined her colleagues to speak to current students at the expo.

She said: “Seeing where I started, understanding where the current students are now and helping to guide them on the right path is good feeling.

“I loved being a Ron Dearing student and it helped me to get to where I am today. I love my apprenticeship and I’m working on some really exciting projects.”

 

Corbin Wright, Business Development Manager at CDS Energy Services, a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC, was among those who attended the expo.

He said: “I spoke to quite a few students and they were very enthusiastic. I’m really impressed by the expo.

“There is a massive labour shortage in our industry and it’s important that everyone gets on board to try and bridge that gap.”

 

Steve Davies, Technical Director at Fisher Security, also a Major Partner of the UTC, said: “I spoke to students about the technology which is available in the security industry and how it can help our customers. It was great to meet them and a brilliant opportunity for them to learn more about what opportunities are out there.”

Ron Dearing UTC ensures its students are as prepared as possible for the world or work, university and any other path they choose to take upon leaving school.

Students take part in mock interview sessions with employers, learn about their personal brand and are given top tips on CV preparation ahead of applications.

 

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal – Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The response from businesses has been outstanding and it’s fantastic to see such a diverse range of employers investing time to grow and nurture local talent. We’re really grateful to all of them.

“It was also brilliant to see so many of our alumni come back to talk about their experiences and help to inspire the next generation.”

Companies represented at the apprenticeship expo were:

• Siemens Gamesa
• Smith+Nephew
• Spencer Group
• Reckitt
• CATCH
• CDS Energy Services
• Cranswick
• Fisher Security
• Ideal Heating
• IRISNDT
• Litmus
• LSTC Group
• Porsche Centre Hull
• Quickline
• Ridings Consulting Engineers
• Wood