The College of West Anglia’s Wisbech campus is celebrating its 7^th year of partnership with Anglian Water Alliances to foster local talent and encourage students to explore technical routes to working within the construction and engineering industries.

CWA works in partnership with AWA, offering a level 2 construction, and a level 3 engineering course at its Wisbech campus. Over 110 students have completed the course since its infancy.

Young people in Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to consider the range of technical routes on offer into the biggest growing sectors in the region. Apprenticeships are just some of the qualifications being showcased this Open Day season with clear routes into the East of England’s growing industries. 

The one-year general construction operation course is governed by City and Guilds and sponsored by AWA. The course provides practical skills, hands-on learning and real site experience whilst learning alongside experienced employees from Anglian Water and their partner companies, including Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Clarets and Clancy.

Upon completion of the course, students are guaranteed a job interview with AWA and their partner companies in order to gain employment onto the eighteen-month Groundworker apprenticeship standard, which is also sponsored by AWA. Apprentices will cover on-site concreting, drainage and substructure work as part of their apprenticeship while working for an AWA partner company. Over 110 students have completed the course since its infancy.

CWA and AWA also offer a two-year level 3  mechanical engineering course gives students the opportunity to learn a broad range of skills and knowledge in the engineering sector. Practical lessons include welding, machining, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, CAD and Electrics and this is supported by a number of theory sessions such as Health and safety, Engineering Maths, Engineering Organisational Efficiency and Improvement and Workplace Improvement.

Upon successful completion of the course the students will have earned a level 3 diploma in engineering and are presented with a guaranteed a job interview with AWA and their partner companies in order to become an apprentice leading to full time employment as a mechanical or electrical engineer working in a variety of different roles.

Darran Charles Osler commented: “The level 3 full time course with AWA is fantastic. It has given me invaluable knowledge in the industry and reinforced what we’ve been studying at college. Hopefully I can get an apprenticeship and gain full time employment with AWA as a fully skilled engineer.

David Pomfret, CWA Principal said: “The collaborative relationship with Anglian Water and their partner companies has enabled us to foster local talent and produce highly-skilled students who progress on to full time employment in key growth sectors in the region.” 

If you would like to find out more about the technical qualifications available to you, including the apprenticeships available to you, please visit: cwa.ac.uk

From L to R: Modestas Puncevicius, Jamie Chatten, Ethan Cook, James Baldwin, lecturer Tony Edgley, Jordan Bown, Ryan Collins, Ryan Clarke, Ben Thomas, Jago Pearson-Hurrell, Harrison Edgley and Darran Osler

Student Darran Osler