As part of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce’s Awareness of Careers in Engineering (ACE) programme, the Engineering & Manufacturing Sector, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Children (DEC), held its annual GCSE and A Level/International Baccalaureate Design & Technology coursework awards evening at the Isle of Man Airport on the 25 June.
The event is part of an exhibition being held in the airport until 3 July of the best GCSE and A Level/International Baccalaureate Design & Technology coursework from each of the six Secondary schools across the Island.
This year’s judges were Graham Cregeen MHK (Department of Economic Development), Tony Wild MLC, Chris Allen (Triumph Actuation Systems, General Manager), Nigel Brown (RLC Ronaldsway, Managing Director) and David Parkes (Swagelok Engineering Manager) who commented during the event that the entries were all of a high and imaginative standard which was a credit to all the students and hopefully will be reflected in their grades.
Whilst each of the eleven exhibitors gained a prize for being the best from their school, three further prizes were issued at the evening by the judges;
- Best GCSE:
Elizabeth Beard (Art Deco product - Ballakermeen High School)
- Best A Level/International Baccalaureate:
Robert Johnson (Sustainable water filter – Ballakermeen High School)
- Best of the Best:
Joe Harrison (Travel case – St. Ninians High School)
Design and Technology, along with Maths, Science and Engineering are the core subjects to develop knowledge and skills that can lead to an exciting career in the Engineering and Manufacturing Sector.
In particular, if students like making things Design and Technology helps to refine those skills which can then be developed further via the Sectors Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering course being run at the IOM College.
The course has 36 places available this September and more information and application forms are available at www.iomcollege.ac.im under the course information section, or contact the Engineering Sector Skills Champion Adrian Harrison M; 498769 E: cloud-nine@manx.net
