Skills for Industry launches in Warwickshire

Published 15th May 2017

On Tuesday 4th April 2017, representatives from Underground Professional Services Limited (UnPS), together with The Design and Technology Association, launched a Skills for Industry programme, supporting five local secondary schools in the Rugby area. Over one hundred, year 7 and 8 pupils, at Harris C of E Academy, Kineton High School, Southam College, Avon Valley and Rugby Free Secondary School will take part in a Skills for Industry Programme designed to bring employment skills into their classrooms.

Through the Skills for Industry programme, teachers and pupils get a real opportunity to meet with industry professionals, learn how the business operates and how they approach different projects and tasks in the real world. They will learn how to use a Theodolite and gain valuable insight into a local tunnelling company over a period of 6-8 weeks. The overall aim is to inspire pupils to include design and technology as an option subject which will hopefully lead them into careers within designing, manufacturing and engineering industries. Teachers are provided with links and contacts with local industries to develop robust future working relationships.

The five schools will develop their knowledge and understanding of the construction industry and the importance of design in industry projects through using Google SketchUp software to design a social area for their school. We are delighted that one of our member schools Kineton High School are involved in this exciting opportunity. Phil Lewis, D&T Teacher at Kineton High School said “my Year 8 pupils are looking forward to engaging with Underground Professional Services, working with industry professionals on real life industrial problems through a process of iterative design. We are hoping that UnPS will provide industrial insight to our students to widen their understanding of problems beyond the classroom.”

In this current economic climate, increasing pupil’s skills, is important if we are to continue to provide companies like UnPS with their next generation of apprentices.

Underground Professional Services (UnPS) are experts in tunnelling design and underground space. Based in the centre of Rugby UnPS are proud to demonstrate a World-class record of innovation in the design and construction of underground space. UnPS have been responsible for a large proportion of significant advances in methodology and materials to the tunnelling industry over the past 20 years. UnPS are currently involved in a range of major UK infrastructure projects including: Crossrail C510 and C512 contracts designing the tunnelled sections of Whitechapel Station and Liverpool Street Station to bring a new £15 Billion railway to London, vastly improving London’s sustainability in terms of transportation and commercial strength. At Tideway West, UnPS are undertaking the design of the Western section of London’s new “super-sewer” which will intercept all major sewage discharges into the River Thames and transfer the flows underground to Beckton in East London for treatment, significantly improving the health of the Thames and its environs.  At Morecambe Bay UnPS are completing the £1.5Billion Tunnel FEED design, to transmit the 400kV electricity lines from the new Moorside nuclear power station a distance of 14km beneath Morecambe Bay to ensure that National Grid can maintain power supplies to the UK grid across the South Lake District without adversely affecting its beautiful countryside.  UnPS are also involved at the centre of High Speed 2 (HS2), designing advanced works and potentially running tunnels for the controversial new rail line to deliver economic benefits to the Midlands and beyond.  UnPS have supported education on a broad range of schemes over a number of years and are looking forward to sharing their knowledge and skills with schools.