Margaret Gildea, Executive Vice President of Human Resources –
Operations and UK Employment and Skills Policy
Rolls-Royce plc
Championing the new Engineering Diploma
The Engineering Diploma is an important new qualification for
14-19 year olds designed to give young people a foundation in
engineering principles. Developed by industry with support from
employers and other stakeholders, the Diploma is a blend of
theoretical knowledge and practical application that will prepare
young people for entry into work, apprenticeships or further study.
It will be available at three levels: Level 1 equivalent in size to
4-5 GCSEs; Level 2 equivalent in size to 5–6 GCSEs; Level 3
equivalent in size to 3 A levels. Selected schools and colleges in
England will begin delivering the Engineering Diploma from
September 2008.
Among employers backing the Engineering Diploma at senior
management level is Rolls-Royce plc. The company is also involved
in the developmental stage of the diploma through Semta. Margaret
Gildea, Executive Vice President of Human Resources – Operations
and UK Employment and Skills Policy, is committed to the Diploma as
a means of reaching more young people with clear messages about
engineering, whilst allowing them to keep their options open. “It
should help to bring a real awareness to young people of what
engineering is about in a way that is not just vocational or
academic but embraces both,” she says. “The Diploma is important
because it gives people from age 14, whatever their ability, a
route they can take through engineering that will get them to where
they might want to get: be that higher education or an
apprenticeship and further education, it really doesn’t matter at
that stage. With 14-19 learning, keeping options open is absolutely
essential.”
Recruitment
In addition to developing existing employees, Rolls-Royce has a
regular intake of new entrants, including young people from age 16
to 20 plus. Engineering Diploma holders are likely to feed into the
company’s recruitment patterns in a number of ways. “People with
diplomas will make a difference to recruitment,” says Head of
Learning Services, Graham Schuhmacher, a member of the Employer
Steering Group that has been leading the development of the Diploma
with Semta. “If they can come along to an interview and show what
they’ve achieved, demonstrate their knowledge, they will be ahead
of people who can’t. Does it get them an automatic offer? No – but
it does give them a very good chance.”
Rolls-Royce’s key strategy for recruiting apprentices at age 16
is through the Young Apprenticeship schemes the company has been
helping to deliver for 14-16 year olds. “Our experience is that
Young Apprentices are hard workers and good achievers. Schools tell
us that their motivation improves as they see the links between
maths, science and communications and the world of work,” says
Graham. “I believe the Level 2 Diploma will do the same and enthuse
young people about these subjects so our main plans for the
16-year-old cohort will be Young Apprentices and Level 2 Diploma
holders side by side.”
Similarly, the Level 3 Diploma, along with A Levels, will
contribute to Rolls Royce’s recruitment of those aged 18+ onto
foundation degree courses and into technical staff roles. It will
contain the academic rigour required to prepare people for higher
education. “The Level 3 engineering content we’ve developed is a
very strong one that will get people into a good university,”
Graham comments. Rolls-Royce also recruits the best engineering
graduates from around the world. The fact that the Diploma should
inspire students to higher engineering degrees at good universities
will be very helpful, the company says.
Supporting education
Rolls-Royce engages with the world of education in many ways,
including working with pupils as young as five years old – “to
attract pupils at age 14 means we’ll have had to do some work
earlier with schools,” Graham explains. Involvement with the
Engineering Diploma is another strand of that engagement. “We want
young people to make positive decisions based on data. The point
about the Diploma is that it links theory learnt in school with
practical activity. It gives us the opportunity to refocus our
support for schools and education by supporting young people who
are really interested in the STEM (science, engineering, technology
and maths) subjects.”
Margaret believes that time spent in the working environment as
part of the Diploma will provide a richer experience for students
than the traditional work experience, since it is focussed around
learning and the application of science, maths and communication.
She says: “For some students it will be what brings those subjects
to life – because they can see how they can be applied. I remember
as a little girl when I did elementary arithmetic I pretended I was
in a shop to make it feel real. There are people who feel better
about things if they can see an application. The Diploma will be
just as valid for those who want to do an engineering degree and
don’t need to understand that much about the world of work.”
Experienced in the health and safety requirements when dealing
with young people through its Young Apprenticeship delivery, the
company envisages making its training workshops available as a
safe, protected environment for Diploma students. Helping young
people see what a clean and modern environment the company provides
should help attract more young entrants – and a higher proportion
of girls – it is hoped. Keeping close to teachers is also
important, according to Margaret. “The more teachers understand the
world of engineering by seeing how things really are, the more
chance we have of them sharing their enthusiasm with students.
We’re looking for high ability: getting that message into schools
and colleges is very valuable.”
Overall, Margaret believes that employers throughout the sector
will benefit greatly from the improved skills and education
standards the Diploma will bring. “I hope, through Rolls-Royce's
involvement in and contribution to the Diploma's development, we
can ensure it will deliver on its potential for the sector, and
employers of all sizes will have the chance to recognise the
increased capacity for employing young people with a relevant
grounding in the world of engineering."
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