The NRC Engineering Career Academy, now in its third year, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland providing Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering students with an opportunity to be mentored by industry professionals exposing them to different career paths and raising their aspiratons.
Dean has spent his internship at McAuley Engineering, Ballymoney, over the last two Summers under the careful supervision of his mentor, Production Engineer Alastair Davison also an ex Engineering student of the College. Speaking about the Career Academy Alastair said “the students meet with their mentors for ten visits throughout the two year course. We talk through what the students are doing and any questions they may have and how this relates to their chosen work.” A keen advocate of the industry placement schemes Alastair continues, “internships are so important for the student to experience a range of disciplines, Dean had the opportunity to move around the factory and find the job that was best suited to his needs.”
Dean has decided to continue his studies at NRC Ballymena, progressing to the Foundation Degree in Engineering. McAuley Engineering has now offered to sponsor Dean throughout his Foundation Degree with a fully paid sandwich year from July 2015 to July 2016 with the possibility of full-time employment when he graduates. Dean said, “McAuley’s are renowned for their sheet metal expertise and it was brilliant being able to have Alastair as my mentor. Having expert advice and backing along the way is invaluable.”
NRC has also awarded Dean the Concorde Cup in June 2014 for the highest grades in the Level 3 Extended Diploma Manufacturing Engineering. Dean also competed in the Worldskills CNC Machining competition representing NRC and McAuley Engineering and was awarded the Regional Winner for Northern Ireland in July 2014. Dean will now compete in the UK Skills Show in Birmingham at the NEC in Birmingham. Dean said, “It was during my internship at McAuley Engineering that I became interested in CNC machining and it was working there that I realised the career path I wanted to pursue.” Dean continues, “I took the internship with the intention of gaining some experience and training and never expected it to end up with me reaching this stage in such an acclaimed competition”. Jonathan McAuley, Managing Director of McAuley Engineering said “we are so proud of Dean’s achievement and it is gifted individuals like him that we want involved in McAuley Engineering. We are delighted that Dean is representing our company and it is such a wonderful accomplishment for Dean himself”.
McAuley Engineering is keen to develop the opportunities for internships within the company, Jonathan said “the opportunities available to our young people is astonishing and we at McAuley Engineering are keen to develop future engineers. The internships are a fantastic way to progress further and offer the best of both worlds – learning at college teamed with the actual experience of the varied working environment available. We believe in nurturing the vast amount of talent our young people have to offer”. Jonathan concludes “Dean is a credit to us, himself and proof of the talent of our young people in Northern Ireland”.
