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Engineers
of the future meet industry leaders at inaugural seminar in Chester
and Wirral New Energy Minister voices support for programme
POWER engineering students who have been recruited to avert a looming skills crisis will meet industry leaders at the inaugural IEE Power Academy Seminar to be held on 14 and 15 July to discuss the challenges facing the UK Power Industry. The Power Academy is a unique partnership between industry and academia to address the looming skills shortage in the power-engineering sector through a combination of financial support and workplace mentoring for students.
It is estimated that the industry needs a minimum of 200 new power engineers each year to sustain itself; however in 2003 there were only 50 students entering power-engineering courses. In its first year the Power Academy added a further 40 students to this pool and has confirmed it is increasing this number to 50 in 2005.
The Power Academy Seminar will be held at Scottish Power Systems Training Centre in Hoylake, Wirral, and EA Technology in Capenhurst, Chester, two of the Power Academy’s key business partners. It will provide an opportunity for the first 40 scholars to meet with industry employers and experts who will cover topics such as the power industry of tomorrow and the need for regulation, reasons for becoming and engineer and the image of engineering in schools.
Speakers include representatives from Central Networks, Scottish Power Systems, National Grid Transco, United Utilities, ABB and the University of Strathclyde. Recent graduates will also be talking about their experiences in joining the sector.
The Power Academy is leading the way in addressing critical skill shortages across the UK and has enjoyed support from all areas of industry and government. The recently appointed Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has voiced his support for the programme.
Mr Wicks said:- "Engineering skills provide opportunities for exciting and fulfilling jobs. By bringing together employers from across the energy sector, the Power Academy is able to deliver a program of training that is both relevant to the industry and helps young people to gain a stimulating career. The Power Academy's success is demonstrated through a marked increase in applicants for power engineering courses. I am delighted to learn that more scholarships are being made available and that more young people will have both training and career opportunities in the energy sector."
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Liverpool girl wins celeb-packed Bliss and NSPCC Prom
15-year-old
Liverpool schoolgirl Jayde Winder has won a glamorous end-of-year
Prom thanks to bliss Magazine and the NSPCC. Hosted by Liz McClarnon
from Celebrity Love Island, the star-studded party will take place
at De La Salle School in St Helens on 6 July. The Prom marks the 3rd
year of the campaign by bliss Magazine to give teens a memorable
party to celebrate the end of their school year. The Prom aims to
give school-leavers a chance to celebrate in style while raising
money for the NSPCC.
Her best friend Cat Bell nominated Jayde, for
supporting her when she was being bullied at school. Jayde will be
rewarded for being such a good mate by being treated to a full
makeover. She'll then be whisked off with her friends in a limo to
party with Liz McClarnon, star of ITV’s Celebrity Love Island;
former A1 star, now successful solo artist Ben Adams; chart-topping
rock boys Freefaller and top DJ Scott Hughes from Radio City 96.7FM.
Jayde, who will be crowned as the Prom Queen,
said:- “I just couldn’t stop screaming when the headmaster
announced I’d won in front of the whole school, we are all so
excited. Every school should have one!”
Jayde's school hall will be transformed into a
secret garden with mocktails, a chocolate fountain, a gaming zone
for the boys and a beauty zone for the girls.
Will Daunt, headmaster of De La Salle School,
added:- “The bliss Prom is such a great way to reward our
hardworking school-leavers. We’re sure that the Prom will be a
great success and are looking forward to having a fun time and
raising lots of money for the NSPCC.”
The NSPCC has teamed up with bliss Magazine to
raise awareness of the charity among young people. John Grounds,
NSPCC Director of Communications, said:- “Raising awareness
about the NSPCC’s FULL STOP campaign among young people is really
important to us. By teaming up with bliss Magazine we are able to
communicate to thousands of teens the message that abuse is wrong
and what to do if they, or anyone they know, are being harmed.”
Lisa Smosarski, Editor of bliss magazine,
added:- "We are thrilled to be in our third year of bliss
Proms and delighted that we are able to give Jayde and her friends
at De La Salle a glamorous night to remember. I hope other schools
listen and more teens leave school in style!”
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