Engineering

This course is designed for 16–18-year-olds who have a keen interest and aptitude for Engineering and those who already have some basic skills and knowledge in production or maintenance engineering and would like to progress onto more advanced qualifications in this sector.

The Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations (Technical Support) course is aimed at preparing school leavers for work, higher level apprenticeships or higher education. With this qualification you could look forward to a future career in the Manufacturing, Automotive or Aerospace sectors.

You will gain a breadth of knowledge and understanding across the Manufacturing Engineering sector and will end the course equipped with the necessary core skills needed for a job in design and manufacture.

Learning will be focused on the following modules:

• Complying with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements
• Carrying out engineering activities efficiently and effectively
• Using and communicating technical information
• Producing mechanical engineering drawings using a CAD (Computer Aided Design) system
• Producing engineering project plans
• Conducting business improvement activities
• General machining, fitting and assembly applications
• General maintenance engineering applications

Formal lessons and presentations will be carried out in the classroom, along with practical demonstrations in the fitting-room, CAD suite and machining workshop. You will be expected to complete tasks both as individuals and in socially constructive groups.

At BLC you will benefit from a hands-on experience in our purpose-built engineering facility with Bridgeport-style turret milling machines, Colchester lathes, 3D Printer, Laser Cutter and state-of-the-art materials testing equipment.

We provide everything you need to learn practical skills, such as the safe and proper use of hand tools (saws, files, drills, taps and dies) and you will demonstrate this by manufacturing components from drawings, and completing the maintenance of simple systems such as bearings, chains and belts.

You will also spend time at the computer learning to use CAD Systems to produce Engineering drawings of various parts and assemblies, such as, a lathe tool holder (a six-part assembly of components).

Finally, you will learn to operate the centre lathe and vertical milling machine which you will use to manufacture parts and assemblies, for example a plumb-bob (two-part lathe assembly), and machine clamp (mill).

In addition to our amazing facilities, we work closely with local employers, such as, Flowflex, Belle Engineering, Esterchem, Tuff Truk and Churnet Valley Engineering, who will contribute to your training by providing demonstrations and talks about the industry.

City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations (Technical Support)

You could progress on to;

• employment in the manufacturing engineering sector,
• a T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing,
• a higher/degree level apprenticeship,
• or a university course.

You will be assessed on your knowledge through a combination of online examination, written assessment and practical assessment.

You will need a minimum of GCSE Grade 4 in both Maths and English.