Year 9 pupils from Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Greenhill and Sir Thomas Picton were at Pembrokeshire College recently as part of an all Wales initiative - Engineering Week Wales. Over 40 pupils visited the college to take part in engineering workshop activities such as the construction of electronic Christmas trees and assembling metal clocks. College lecturers and apprentices from Chevron Pembroke refinery were on hand to ensure the pupils had a productive and enjoyable day.

Engineering Week Wales has the strong support of City & Guilds, Edexcel, Semta, the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) and the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE). The aim of Engineering Week Wales, which has been jointly developed by Fforwm, the Association of Welsh Colleges, and Careers Wales, is to promote careers in engineering with a particular emphasis on modern engineering as an industry.

“Engineering Week Wales is especially relevant in Pembrokeshire,” said Hugh Roch, Programme Area Manager for the college’s engineering courses, “The growth of the energy industry in the county has created some interesting and well paid career opportunities. The college activities were designed to give school pupils an insight into engineering and encourage them to consider career opportunities within the industry.”

With a glaring skills shortage within high-end precision engineering becoming increasingly apparent, Careers Wales Executive Director, Lesley Rees, feels that events such as Engineering Week Wales have a crucial role to play in demonstrating to young people exactly where a future career in engineering could lead.

“I said this last year and the problem has not gone away – in simple terms, Wales needs more engineers and particularly those who will go on to fill the higher level positions,” said Lesley.

To find out about engineering, ask your local Careers Wales West advisor.

Photo caption - Tenby

Year 9 pupils from Greenhill taking part in a clock making workshop at Pembrokeshire College

Photo caption – Bro Gwuan Fishguard

Rhian Griffiths and Charlotte Harris enjoying making their electronic Christmas trees during Engineering Week Wales

Photo caption – STP

Sir Thomas Picton pupils( right to left) Paige Wright, Amber Alderidge-White and Rebecca Cresswell- Davies.