UWTSD supports new programme encouraging young people to pursue careers in engineering

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David's (UWTSD) MADE Cymru project has partnered with Safran Seats, Cardiff & Vale College (CAVC) and the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) to introduce the first Industrial Cadet Award programme in South Wales.

The event has been co-ordinated by Aerospace Wales Skills Ambassador, Vivienne Compton of Industry Learning Solutions Ltd. The initiative is designed to inspire 14-16-year-olds to pursue a career in engineering and STEM, by providing a three-day block of learning during half-term. The sponsored programme includes one day with an employer, one day with a college (and workshop), and one day of activities and talks with a university.

Safran Seats specialise in First and Business Class seating for wide-body aircraft. As a world leader in aircraft passenger and crew seats, Safran Seats partners with airlines and commercial plane and helicopter manufacturers to bring innovative and high-value solutions to customers, with expertise that covers the entire product value chain, from design to assembly and certification. One million seats made by the company are currently in service worldwide.

The Industrial Cadet Award programme offers school pupils an opportunity to gain insight into the skills, knowledge, and experience required for a career in engineering. Viv Compton who has been championing the programme in Wales said: “The Industrial Cadet Award programme offers participants the opportunity to clearly understand the career pathways to engineering via apprenticeships and degrees - whilst also achieving recognition for their CVs and future job applications.

“It helps 14–16-year-olds visualise what a career in engineering really means - and how to get there. I am passionate about this opportunity coming to school children across Wales as I know from first-hand experience that the EDT’s Industrial Cadet Award and Routes into STEM programmes work. My daughter became an engineering apprentice at 16 and her journey began on a programme like this at 14 years of age. She is now a second-year level 3 design apprentice and contemplating a degree apprenticeship with Safran. The 30 participants lucky enough to be sponsored on this 2023 Welsh Industrial Cadet Award programme will meet her at Safran on 23rd February!”

As part of the new EDT programme in South Wales, the participants will visit the University’s IQ building in Swansea on February 22, where they will enjoy a full timetable of activities, including talks, workshops, and a tour of the robotics laboratory.

Participants will also have the chance to drive a racing car simulator and discover the exciting ways engineering degrees can be delivered through a blend of academic and practical content. UWTSD's Degree Apprenticeship Unit will also be available to provide information and answer questions about engineering apprenticeships.

Upon completion of the three-day programme, year 10 school pupils from across South Wales will achieve an Industrial Cadet Award, which will demonstrate their commitment to engineering and showcase the valuable experience they have gained. Cardiff & Vale College will also host a day at their International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT), giving prospective apprentices an opportunity to use the aircraft simulator and better understand their career options and routes to achieving them.

Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, said:

“The Industrial Cadet Award is an excellent way of bringing real-world engineering practice to students and providing first-hand experience of what is required for a career in STEM. Ensuring we have skilled learners in these fields is vital to our economic prospects here in Wales - and to also make Wales a place where more young people feel confident in planning their future.”

Ellen Pugsley, Individual Programmes Lead at the Engineering Development Trust said:

"It's truly exhilarating when a successful Welsh manufacturer, college and university come together to create such a momentous opportunity. The young participants will get first-hand experience of the innovative technologies that are prominent in the field of engineering.

“Additionally, it's highly advantageous for them to have a glimpse into the diverse career paths available to them, such as degree apprenticeships. This exposure is not normally offered by schools, and it can be life changing."

Abi Summerfield, Senior Lecturer, Automotive & Motorsport Engineering said:

“The UWTSD School of Engineering is looking forward to welcoming these young learners to our purpose-built campus on Wednesday. It is critical that we engage young people into STEM at an early point in their education so we can entice them into a career in Engineering. In the department we have a long history of moulding highly successful graduates by delivering traditional engineering fundamentals through exciting applications as seen in our Energy & Environmental, Motorsport and Motorcycle engineering courses.”

Lisa Lucas, Head of MADE Cymru, UWTSD, said,

“It gives us immense pleasure to support the Industrial Cadet Award event. Our MADE Cymru programme is dedicated to upskilling manufacturers in Wales, thereby driving economic growth in the sector. As engineering and manufacturing are integral components of Wales's economy, we take pride in being a part of an event that seeks to encourage and attract the next generation of young professionals to these thriving industries. Our team is committed to amplifying these career choices and boosting their prosperity to the fullest.”

Note to Editors

MADE Cymru is a programme funded by the European Social Fund via Welsh Government and delivered by UWTSD. It is designed to upskill manufacturers in Wales, driving economic growth in the sector.

The Engineering Development Trust is a UK charity focused on helping young people develop their knowledge and understanding of STEM careers and work with industry, universities, and colleges across the UK. They offer the Industrial Cadet Bronze Award, Silver, and Gold.

PCYDDS yn cefnogi rhaglen newydd sy’n annog pobl ifanc i ddilyn gyrfaoedd mewn peirianneg

Mae prosiect MADE Cymru Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant (PCYDDS) wedi ymuno â Safran Seats, Coleg Caerdydd a’r Fro (CCAF) a’r Ymddiriedolaeth Datblygu Peirianneg (EDT) i gyflwyno’r rhaglen Gwobr Cadetiaid Diwydiannol gyntaf yn ne Cymru.

Cydlynwyd y digwyddiad gan Lysgennad Sgiliau Awyrofod Cymru, Vivienne Compton o Industry Learning Solutions Ltd. Bwriad y fenter yw ysbrydoli pobl ifanc rhwng 14 ac 16 oed i ddilyn gyrfa ym maes peirianneg a STEM, trwy ddarparu bloc tridiau o ddysgu yn ystod hanner tymor. Mae’r rhaglen noddedig yn cynnwys diwrnod â chyflogwr, diwrnod â choleg (a gweithdy), a diwrnod o weithgareddau a sgyrsiau â phrifysgol.

Mae Safran Seats yn arbenigo mewn seddi Dosbarth Cyntaf a Busnes ar gyfer awyrennau llydan. Yn arweinydd byd ym maes seddi i deithwyr a chriw awyren, mae Safran Seats yn bartner i gwmnïau hedfan a gweithgynhyrchwyr awyrennau a hofrenyddion masnachol er mwyn cyflwyno atebion arloesol a gwerth uchel i gwsmeriaid. Mae eu harbenigedd yn cwmpasu’r gadwyn werth cynnyrch gyfan, o ddylunio i gydosod ac ardystio. Mae miliwn o seddi a wnaed gan y cwmni’n gwasanaethu ledled y byd ar hyn o bryd.

Mae’r rhaglen Gwobr Cadetiaid Diwydiannol yn cynnig cyfle i ddisgyblion ysgol ennill cipolwg ar y sgiliau, y wybodaeth, a’r profiad sydd eu hangen ar gyfer gyrfa mewn peirianneg. Meddai Viv Compton, sydd wedi bod yn hyrwyddo’r rhaglen yng Nghymru: “Mae’r rhaglen Gwobr Cadetiaid Diwydiannol yn cynnig cyfle i gyfranogwyr ddeall yn glir y llwybrau gyrfa i beirianneg trwy brentisiaethau a graddau – wrth ennill cydnabyddiaeth ar gyfer eu CVs a’u ceisiadau am swydd i’r dyfodol ar yr un pryd.

“Mae’n helpu pobl ifanc rhwng 14 ac 16 oed ddelweddu beth mae gyrfa mewn peirianneg yn ei olygu mewn gwirionedd – a sut i gyrraedd yno. Rwy’n llawn brwdfrydedd fod y cyfle hwn yn dod i blant ysgol ledled Cymru oherwydd rwy’n gwybod o brofiad uniongyrchol fod rhaglenni Gwobr Cadetiaid Diwydiannol EDT a Llwybrau i STEM yn gweithio. Daeth fy merch yn brentis peirianneg yn 16 oed a dechreuodd ei thaith ar raglen fel hon yn 14 oed. Mae hi’n brentis dylunio lefel 3 yn ei hail flwyddyn erbyn hyn ac yn ystyried gradd-brentisiaeth gyda Safran. Bydd y 30 cyfranogwr a fydd yn ddigon ffodus i gael eu noddi ar y rhaglen Gwobr Cadetiaid Diwydiannol Cymru 2023 hon yn cwrdd â hi yn Safran ar y 23ain o Chwefror!”

Fel rhan o’r rhaglen EDT newydd yn ne Cymru, bydd y cyfranogwyr yn ymweld ag adeilad IQ y Brifysgol yn Abertawe ar 22 Chwefror, lle cânt fwynhau amserlen lawn o weithgareddau, gan gynnwys sgyrsiau, gweithdai, a thaith o gwmpas y labordy roboteg.

Caiff y cyfranogwyr gyfle hefyd i yrru efelychydd car rasio a darganfod y ffyrdd cyffrous y gellir cyflwyno graddau peirianneg trwy gyfuniad o gynnwys academaidd ac ymarferol. Bydd Uned Gradd-brentisiaethau PCYDDS hefyd ar gael i roi gwybodaeth ac i ateb cwestiynau am brentisiaethau peirianneg.

Ar ôl cwblhau’r rhaglen tridiau, bydd disgyblion ysgol blwyddyn 10 o dde Cymru’n ennill Gwobr Cadetiaid Diwydiannol, a fydd yn dangos eu hymrwymiad i beirianneg ac yn arddangos y profiad gwerthfawr a gawsant. Bydd Coleg Caerdydd a’r Fro hefyd yn cynnal diwrnod yn eu Canolfan Ryngwladol Hyfforddiant Awyrofod (ICAT), gan roi cyfle i ddarpar brentisiaid ddefnyddio’r efelychydd awyren a deall eu hopsiynau gyrfa’n well, a’r llwybrau i’w cyflawni.

Dywedodd Gweinidog yr Economi, Vaughan Gething:

“Mae Gwobr y Cadetiaid Diwydiannol yn ffordd wych o ddod ag arfer peirianneg o’r byd go iawn i fyfyrwyr a darparu profiad uniongyrchol o’r hyn sydd ei angen ar gyfer gyrfa o fewn STEM. Mae sicrhau bod gennym ni ddysgwyr medrus yn y meysydd hyn yn hanfodol i’n rhagolygon economaidd yma yng Nghymru – a hefyd i wneud Cymru yn wlad lle mae mwy o bobl ifanc yn teimlo’n hyderus wrth gynllunio eu dyfodol.”

Meddai Ellen Pugsley, Arweinydd Rhaglenni Unigol yn yr Ymddiriedolaeth Datblygu Peirianneg:

"Mae’n wirioneddol wefreiddiol pan fydd gweithgynhyrchydd, coleg a phrifysgol o Gymru’n dod at ei gilydd i greu cyfle mor arbennig. Bydd y cyfranogwyr ifanc yn cael profiad uniongyrchol o’r technolegau arloesol sy’n flaenllaw ym maes peirianneg.

“Yn ogystal, mae’n fanteisiol iawn iddynt gael cipolwg ar y llwybrau gyrfa amrywiol sydd ar gael iddynt, fel gradd-brentisiaethau. Nid yw ysgolion fel arfer yn cynnig y profiad hwn, a gall newid bywyd.”

Meddai Abi Summerfield, Uwch Ddarlithydd, Peirianneg Modurol a Chwaraeon Modur:

“Mae Ysgol Peirianneg PCYDDS yn edrych ymlaen at groesawu’r dysgwyr ifanc hyn i’n campws pwrpasol ddydd Mercher. Mae’n hanfodol ein bod ni’n ennyn diddordeb pobl ifanc mewn STEM yn gynnar yn ystod eu haddysg fel y gallwn eu denu i yrfa mewn Peirianneg. Mae gennym hanes hir o ffurfio graddedigion llwyddiannus iawn yn yr adran, trwy gyflwyno hanfodion peirianneg draddodiadol trwy raglenni cyffrous fel y gwelir yn ein cyrsiau peirianneg Ynni ac Amgylcheddol, Chwaraeon Modur a Beiciau Modur.”

Meddai Lisa Lucas, Pennaeth MADE Cymru, PCYDDS:

“Mae’n bleser mawr inni gefnogi digwyddiad y Wobr Cadetiaid Diwydiannol. Mae ein rhaglen MADE Cymru’n ymroddedig i uwchsgilio gweithgynhyrchwyr yng Nghymru, gan yrru twf economaidd yn y sector drwy hynny. Gan fod peirianneg a gweithgynhyrchu’n gydrannau canolog o economi Cymru, rydym yn ymfalchïo mewn bod yn rhan o ddigwyddiad sy’n ceisio annog a denu’r genhedlaeth nesaf o weithwyr proffesiynol ifanc i’r diwydiannau ffyniannus hyn. Mae ein tîm wedi ymrwymo i ehangu’r dewisiadau gyrfa hyn a hybu eu ffyniant i’r eithaf.”

Nodyn i Olygyddion

Rhaglen a gyllidir gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop trwy Lywodraeth Cymru yw MADE Cymru, ac fe’i cyflenwir gan PCYDDS. Mae wedi’i chynllunio i uwchsgilio gweithgynhyrchwyr yng Nghymru, gan yrru twf economaidd yn y sector.

Elusen yn y DU yw’r Ymddiriedolaeth Datblygu Peirianneg sy’n canolbwyntio ar helpu pobl ifanc i ddatblygu eu gwybodaeth a’u dealltwriaeth o yrfaoedd STEM ac mae’n gweithio gyda byd diwydiant, prifysgolion, a cholegau ledled y DU. Maen nhw’n cynnig Gwobr Efydd, Arian ac Aur y Cadetiaid Diwydiannol.