Engineers share expertise with students

Eighteen students from Hastingsbury Business and Enterprise College in Kempston and All Saints Academy in Dunstable joined LMUK for an interactive manufacturing training day, giving hands on experience and highlighting the engineering career opportunities available in Bedfordshire.

It was in support of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill’s See Inside Manufacturing campaign.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “See Inside Manufacturing is about changing perceptions of modern manufacturing and showing young people, teachers and careers advisers that the industry offers interesting and rewarding job opportunities.

“I’m pleased that Lockheed Martin UK has signed up to help represent the aerospace and defence sector, and dispel outdated perceptions of manufacturing.”

Company graduates took the students on a tour of the company’s facilities, highlighting the Prototype Model Shop, the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme and the production workshops.

The company also hosted an engineering exercise, which saw the students design and build a small vehicle which must support an egg while being towed over rough terrain.

The winning team, from Hastingsbury Business and Enterprise College was awarded with National Book Tokens by Steve Burnage, head of design.

Lockheed Martin’s Ampthill site works on major programmes spanning the defence, aerospace and civil sectors, including the Warrior Capability and Sustainment programme. Some 650 people are employed at the location.

Stephen Ball, chief executive of Lockheed Martin UK saaid: “We are very excited to be participating in this year’s BIS See inside Manufacturing Campaign, to help excite and educate young people on the manufacturing opportunities that exist all over the UK.

“We hope the scale and the significance of the projects we run at our Ampthill site inspired local students and illustrated the fascinating and important work that takes place in the industry.”