Skills Factory - Important changes to BEng degree delivery structure and fee subsidies

By Black Country Skills Factory
schedule4th Nov 13

The Black Country Skills Factory has been promoting a new accelerated two-year BEng degree programme in Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton. The aim of this degree is to help develop the next generation of leaders and managers in the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) sector in the Black Country.

Following feedback from HVM companies in the Black Country and subsequent discussions with the University to encourage additional sign up of candidates, a number of significant changes have taken place to the structure of the course: in how it is delivered and how it is funded.

The changes are detailed below:

1) The BEng degree will still be delivered over 2 years
- University attendance, however, will now be every Friday (45 weeks / year) + 12 Saturday’s per year
- Students will be at work 4 full days per week (Mon – Thurs)
- Project assignments will be on live projects selected by the employer

2) The Black Country Skills Factory will subsidise the course fees of the first course (Jan 2014 intake) as follows:
- 50% reduction for both years for smaller companies (<250 employees)
- £1,000 each year for larger companies (250+ employees)

3) University of Wolverhampton is flexible about entry qualifications
- They can conduct an assessment for those aged 24+, without formal qualifications.

4) The 1st course will start in January 2014
- Sign up must be by December 16th 2013

The Skills Factory is looking to sign up at least five additional students for the January 2014 intake.

We recognise the sign up time is short; however, this is a significant change that will help reduce the burden on employers both in terms of time ‘off the job’ and cost. The degree is a great opportunity in which to develop the talent companies have in-house, and will help to facilitate employees becoming the next leaders and managers of their organisation.

If you have an interest in this degree, please contact Colin Parker on 07944 268709 or [email protected] .  We can arrange for a member of staff from the University of Wolverhampton to discuss any further questions in greater detail.

The Black Country Skills Factory is an employer-led project supported by government funding whose aim is to address the skills shortages in the HVM sector in the Black Country, the only scheme of this kind across the UK to focus specifically on the HVM sector.

For further information on the Black Country Skills Factory visit: www.blackcountryskillsfactory.co.uk

 

Not interested in a two-year degree programme?

The Black Country Skills Factory also offers subsidised bite-sized training courses in key skills shortage areas in the HVM sector. Places are still available on the following courses:

CNC Machining & Turning:
- CNC Milling Machines – Changeover & alignment of fixtures (19 Nov)
- Hurco CNC machining centre - 2D milling – programming (18 & 19 Nov)
- CNC turning – Jaw setting and Bar feeds (6 Feb 2014)

Toolroom, Metals and Foundry:
Principles of Heat Treatment (5 Dec)

Welding Up-skilling:
Tig Welding Beginners Course – additional dates due to high demand (19 & 20 Nov)

All courses have received a 30% subsidy from the Skills Factory and are offered at £130 per day, per person. To book a place on the above courses, please e-mail [email protected]

Full course content can be found on our website.