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WMG, the University of Warwick, is renowned for both collaborative research and development with global companies, and world leading, industry relevant education. We work with companies from the automotive, aerospace and defence, business, construction, energy, healthcare, IT, security and rail sectors to push the boundaries of technology and develop products and processes that will have real impact on the economy and society.

By bringing together professors, researchers, engineers, and scientists from different fields, we encourage the transfer of knowledge into new applications, and a real entrepreneurial spirit. The results of that research work feed into our education programmes, and our students learn from the best.

From pupils at our WMG Academies for Young Engineers, through our undergraduate (including Apprentices) and Master’s degree programmes, right up to our PhD and EngD Doctoral Training Centres, there are a world of opportunities available.

WMG Academy students gearing up for a fresh start at university

Apprentice success for 35 students from the WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Coventry

Success Stories

www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/

WMG Academy students gearing up for a fresh start at university

Students from the WMG Academy for Young Engineers are set to further their studies after successfully securing places at Coventry’s universities.

Based in Canley and opened in 2014, the WMG Academy for Young Engineers has been recognised as an exemplary University Technical College and is transforming the lives of local students by educating the region’s new generation of engineers as well as providing Coventry and regional companies with fresh engineering talent.

Ten local students are starting their university studies locally this autumn are from the WMG Academy’s first graduating class, which saw a 100% pass rate in engineering.

Talal Siksek from Coventry, who is set to study Physics at the University of Warwick, said: “I really enjoyed my time at the WMG Academy for Young Engineers, it was the best two years of my education. I thought the teaching was great, I really connected to the teachers. I felt there were approachable and I enjoyed the different teaching styles. I found it stimulating to be in an environment where everyone was passionate about engineering. I’m very much looking forward to starting at the University of Warwick. I chose my physics course because it had a focus on programming, which is an area I enjoy and so this appealed to me. I’ve already been talking to come of my fellow classmates and I know I’m going to feel at home in a place where we’re all passionate about the same subject.”

Also William Savage and Gian Sebastian, will be starting the Applied Engineering Programme (AEP) at WMG, as part of their apprenticeship with Aston Martin. The AEP is a BEng degree which allows apprentices to study for a degree whilst working full-time. There were two of 35 students who successfully gain apprenticeships with local and global companies.

The Royal Academy of Engineering has highlighted that the UK will need a million more engineers and technicians by 2020, which will require doubling the number of engineering apprentices every year. Under the leadership of Kate Tague, Executive Principal of the WMG Academies Trust, the WMG Academy is playing a key role in addressing this need by creating a crucial link between national and local employers, parents and universities - further enhanced this month with the opening of a second WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull, with an intake of 160 students and the support of six sponsoring companies.

Alongside WMG, and the University of Warwick, are 16 of the region’s largest employers, who from day one have inputted into the WMG Academy curriculum ensuring that students are educated in the relevant areas, in an environment with a professional ethos and culture that is both in high demand in today’s working world and key to supporting our local and regional economy.

WMG Academy’s first graduating class of Year 13 students achieved further success with over a quarter of its students gaining places at Russell Group universities, including Warwick, and also Coventry University. Over 50 students secured places on apprenticeship schemes and jobs in global automotive companies, and SMEs, as well as a plethora of other industries nationally and locally, including; Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Covcon, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes, National Grid, RBS and Tata Technologies. Of these 4 are sponsoring companies of the WMG Academy, which further shows the commitment to ensuring Coventry, and the region, has a continued pipeline of engineering talent.

Those students who successfully secured apprentices at Jaguar Land Rover will this month continue their learning through the new Jaguar Land Rover Academy for Life Long Learning; the first of its kind in the UK automotive sector. This continues the relationship the students have with WMG, who are a key partner in the Academy, which has a base at the University of Warwick.

Kate Tague, Executive Principal, WMG Academies Trust said: “The WMG Academies were set up with a vision to give students the skills and knowledge they required to be able to support the local and national economy. I’m delighted with the achievements of the students leaving this summer. We aim to be the first choice for the recruitment of apprentices in the area, supporting local and national companies with the recruitment of their future workforce. By studying GCSE, A Levels, or BTEC subjects it enables them to go onto university, apprenticeships or gain employment. We are thrilled that over 25% of our students gained places at our two local universities. The results this year shows that the WMG Academy is certainly fulfilling its objective, which is to provide skilled graduates for the future within Coventry and wider region.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya comments: “It is vital that in order for our local, and regional companies, to continue to be competitive, they must have the right people with the right skills. With the unique approach, and support of some of the best engineering employers, the WMG Academy for Young Engineers is developing a pool of talent which have the skills that are required to work in industry today.”

Apprentice success for 35 students from the WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Coventry

As the first cohort of students from the WMG Academy for Young Engineers, in Coventry, complete their studies, 35 students have already secured apprenticeships and jobs in industry.

The Royal Academy of Engineering has shown that the UK will need a million more engineers and technicians by 2020. That will require doubling the number of engineering apprentices every year. The WMG Academy for Young Engineers is tackling this problem by creating a link between employer, parent and university.

It is credit to the teachers at the Academy, and the students themselves, that these 35 students have secured places on apprenticeship schemes and jobs in global automotive companies, and SMEs, as well as a plethora of other industries. Some of the companies include Audi, BMW, Covcon, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes, National Grid, RBS and Tata Technologies, as well as WMG, the University of Warwick.

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers is one of 30 University Technical Colleges, which are government-funded schools that train 14-19-year-olds in science, engineering and technology. The Academy are unique in their approach to education as they provide the opportunity for students to gain a variety of business and engineering skills, which employees are seeking, in addition to studying core curriculum subjects.

Students, at the Academy, are given the opportunity to gain skills by working on projects with local and national businesses. These businesses contribute ideas, challenges and projects which add to the variety and practical applications of the Academy’s curriculum.

This business like and business led approach coupled with purpose built teaching and learning facilities, including state of the art engineering halls and CAD suites, significantly contributes to the improvement of education for students who desire a career in engineering as well as broader business sectors.

Just some of these automotive successes include, Ben Austin and Ben Lloyd from Royal Leamington Spa who secured places on Jaguar Land Rover apprenticeship schemes; Hayley McDermott from Coventry who secured a place at Audi; Jack McCreath secured an apprenticeship at Mercedes; and Charlotte Parr and Joanne Eley who will join BMW.

Engineering companies include Chris Nix from Solihull and Robin Turner from Kenilworth who secured apprenticeships with Tata Technologies, Kyan Bodinnar, Josh Goodwin and Avery Eyles from Coventry who secured apprenticeships with Covcon, Tom Moore from Coventry and Joe Benjamin from Ansty, Warwickshire will start as trainee technicians at WMG, University of Warwick.

It wasn’t just engineering or automotive companies where the students were successful, Matthew Stark from Warwick will join Mondelez in Solihull; Callum Strong will start work with RBS; and Sam Eyre will start work with National Grid.

Joe Benjamin a student at WMG Academy for Young Engineers said “Throughout my studies at the WMG Academy, I have been provided with theoretical and practical based learning. Not only this, but the academy also provided me with engineering experience which has given me the opportunity to understand how several engineering companies function.”

Coventry’s WMG Academy for Young Engineers apprentices prepare for their next destination

Nick Sale, Chief Operating Officer of Tata Technologies Europe, said:

“We are delighted to be part of WMG Academy for Young Engineers and are looking forward to having Chris and Robin joining us here at Tata Technologies.

“Tata Technologies is proud to run a Chartered Engineer accredited graduate scheme and a Ready Engineers internship programme. Our new relationship with WMG Academy further broadens our commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation of engineers.

“We wish Chris and Robin the best of luck with their apprenticeship and hope it inspires them to start a career in engineering!”

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya Chairman of WMG said:

“I came to Britain as a graduate apprentice with Lucas Industries. My apprenticeship gave me connections and showed me that businesses needed academics who understood the real world of work. I’m delighted that three of the students from the WMG Academy will be coming to work at WMG.

“My apprenticeship shaped my entire career. At WMG, I’ve sought to give others the same chances. That’s why workplace learning and technical education is at the very core of WMGs purpose. It is fantastic to see the WMG Academy for Young Engineers helping young people to secure apprenticeships that will help them establish them in the engineering world.”

Kate Tague, Executive Principal of the WMG Academy for Young Engineers Trust said:

“Many congratulations to all of our students, especially those who have already secured apprenticeships with businesses. We aim to make sure every course; every programme is highly sought after by apprentices and firms alike.

The response from parents, students and employers has been incredible. So great is the response, we’re opening another academy in Solihull this September.”

The WMG Academy aims to create a clear route for every student after eighteen into quality apprenticeships, higher education or a full-time job, helping students to find their next destination.

The value of apprenticeships according to Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder and Chairman of WMG

“My apprenticeship gave me connections and showed me that businesses needed academics who understood the real world of work. My apprenticeship shaped my entire career.

“At WMG, I've sought to give others the same chances. That's why workplace learning and technical education is at the very core of WMG's purpose. We created our modular learning system so companies could help employees get qualifications at a pace that suits both managers and workers. We built long term partnerships so employers could be sure their staff would learn useful skills, and students would know that technical education at Warwick boosted their career.”

The full speech can be found here.

Talking submarines #Godiva2

Meet Josh, one of our former students (Class of 2016) and Warwick Sub project manager. Warwick Sub involves a team of six students who design, build and race a human-powered submarine, as Josh said: “It really is as exciting as it sounds.

“Warwick Sub is one of the most high-profile student engineering projects at the University of Warwick, and I’m exceptionally grateful to be part of it.”

Learn more about Josh’s journey here.

Seize every opportunity

Professor Janet Godsell, Head of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy at WMG, University of Warwick shares her journey on what attracted and kept her in a career in manufacturing.

"Not everyone knows what they want to be when they grow up, and manufacturing probably isn’t the expected career choice for most 15-year-old girls; but in the 1980s Japanese manufacturing was at its pinnacle, and I was fascinated by it.

"I have always been able to follow my heart, and almost 30 years later I am still just as fascinated by manufacturing, albeit in a broader supply chain context, and look forward to the next 30 years. My advice to others is to grab all the opportunities you are given."

Apprentice success for WMG Academy students

As the first cohort of students from the WMG Academy for Young Engineers, in Coventry, complete their studies, 35 students have already secured apprenticeships and jobs in industry.

Breaking the mould and shaping the future at Aston Martin

While many of the UK’s freshers enjoyed a summer off, William Savage and Gian Sebastian were at work – for Aston Martin. Not only are the two 18-year-olds among the very first cohort of graduates from the WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Coventry, they are now two of the first Aston Martin employees to be signed up for the Applied Engineering Programme (AEP), delivered by WMG, the University of Warwick.

Apprenticeships are nothing new for Aston Martin. Will and Gian are two of 16 recruited this year and part of the total of 45 apprentices currently working for the luxury car maker. It’s a coveted role – the apprentices are chosen from hundreds of applicants through a process of selection days, assessments, interviews and presentations.