Teesside University has launched a series of new Degree Apprenticeships, under the leadership of Director of Professional Apprenticeships Jo Burgess. Here we look at the Science Industry Process and Plant Engineer (SIPPE) degree apprenticeship, with Course Leader Omar Aboelazayem

“Our course will provide support to a significant number of local chemical industries in the North East, as Teesside University is situated at the centre of the Tees Valley Industrial Cluster, the largest chemical complex in the United Kingdom. We are also targeting national industries by providing a fully online mode of delivery for the academic components of the apprenticeship to reduce time spent off-site and increase flexibility and accessibility.

“We are proud to be the sole provider of SIPPE in the country with an IChemE accredited BEng degree in Chemical Engineering.

 “The Chemical Engineering Team at Teesside University has over 40 years of experience in collaborating with industries and delivering degree programmmes. Many of our students are part-time industry-based students who work in the local industries. The Department of Engineering already offers a range of online engineering courses from HNC and HND up to Top-Up degrees. We hope that launching this new apprenticeship will lead to an increased number of local and national industries working in collaboration with the university – and that enhanced interaction and collaboration will facilitate the exploration of more opportunities, ultimately enhancing students' employability.

“Our course aims to support employers to provide continuing professional development for their employees, whether they be school leavers who want to join an employer and complete their studies within that workplace or potentially experienced engineering technicians already with an employer looking for further development.

“The apprenticeship also plays an important role in improving staff retention from the employer’s point of view. If your employees are feeling like they're developing skills, it's a really good route in terms of their supporting them staying with the company.”

If this sounds like the course for you, find out more.