A LEADING chemical company has offered a sought after summer placement to a potential future engineer following a visit by students to its world leading Tees Valley plant.

The first and second year A Level students visited petrochemical firm Sabic’s facility in Teesside.

The young students involved have all signed up to the Future Engineers’ Scheme at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington.

Sabic is the major producer of plastics and chemicals in Europe and its 2,000 acre site is also home to a number of other chemical companies.
As a result of the visit the sixth form college has been offered a summer placement for one of its prospective engineers.”

Queen Elizabeth student, Matthew Brown, said:”The trip was very insightful – it gave me a good idea of what actually happens on such a large scale and the excellent prospects that are available to engineers.”

Fellow student Rachel Harrington added: “It was useful to hear about how Sabic recruits their workers and the different entry routes into engineering and how they support their employees once in the role.”

Liz Bryan, QE’s Future Engineers’ Co-ordinator, said “This was an excellent visit. It highlighted to the students what is happening regarding engineering in the North East, and gave first-hand knowledge of how an international chemical company operates as well as the employment opportunities both as a graduate and as a higher apprentice.”

The students were given an insight into the company both in the UK and abroad, the entry routes and what the company looks for in a prospective employee.

They also found out more about the varied engineering disciplines the company needs to function.

Encouraging more young people to consider careers in engineering is a key part of the Foundation for Jobs campaign, which aims to tackle youth unemployment by addressing the causes at the roots.

Engineering is a major employment sector for the North-East and facing significant skills gaps in the years to come, but has often struggled to attract young people because of their perceptions of what an engineer does.

Foundation for Jobs, a joint initiative between Darlington Borough Council, The Northern Echo and the Darlington Partnership of public and private sector organisations works to address such perceptions, working with young people from the age of eight to 24.

In March pupils at Darlington’s secondary schools will spend a day building working hovercraft, capable of carrying a pilot, with a specialised team. The event has been organised by Foundation for Jobs and The Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.