London manufacturer joins support for Diploma in Engineering

Industry leaders are rallying behind the Diploma in Engineering, a new qualification designed to offer the sector skills that employers require and value.

The Diploma was first launched in 2008 in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering and six Sector Skills Councils (SSC).

It is receiving strong support from business leaders, who have become ‘Diploma Champions’ to drive the qualification forward.

Martin Stevens, chief executive of London manufacturer A1 Technologies, is one of the Diploma’s strongest advocates.

“As an employer I would like to see more relevant up-to-date education, with better skills development,” says Mr Stevens, who is also chairman of Made in London, which represents manufacturers in the capital.

“The Diploma will provide employers with a work-ready pool of candidates to recruit from and this, in turn will help boost the UK economy.”

The qualification can be studied to three levels: Foundation, Higher and Advanced. Teaching is delivered both in the classroom and in the workplace to ensure the learning can be applied to the working world. To this aim, it also guarantees learners a minimum of ten days work experience.

Mr Stevens is also taking part in events across the UK to talk to parents, teachers and young people about what the Diploma in Engineering has to offer.

“As a company bringing cutting edge technologies to everyone, we need highly qualified engineers and technicians and the Diploma in Engineering will play a key part in helping this to happen,” he adds.

Philip Whiteman, chief executive of Semta, the SSC for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies, says: “We are delighted that Martin has become a Diploma Champion. The support of companies such as A1 Technologies is essential to the success of the Diploma that is already helping young people to acquire the skills needed to keep the UK at the forefront of world engineering.”

Jason Rainbow

(Pictured: Martin Stevens, chief executive of A1 Technologies)