Students studying on the BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (Top-up) degree have enjoyed enhancing their skills and knowledge here at the University Centre Wigan & Leigh College.

They have taken what they have learnt and integrated their enhanced skills into the work place to benefit their companies and themselves individually.

Batch Binder and Furnace Technician, Matt Unsworth and Research and Development Engineer, Scott Williams both work at Nippon Electric Glass based in Hindley.

Matt completed his HNC and HND here before coming on to the Top-up degree and had a basic understanding with CAD design, but since being on the BEng course he has become a much more competent CAD drawer resulting in his designs being used by the company.

His job involves working with thermodynamics and working out how the glass flows and he has found that the knowledge he learns on the course has a direct positive impact at work.

Matt said: “I am now more of an asset to the company as I have more valuable skills which apply to my job role. I have also learnt here how to use the Gantt tool which has really helped me at work especially as I have been working on big projects.”

Scott decided he wanted to further his career and heard about the degree course from his work colleague Matt. He had previously enjoyed doing his HNC and HND here (2001/2002).

Scott: “I have to do a lot of report writing in my job and this course has developed my skills in identifying good and bad references and how to write a structured report. This has been very beneficial and has helped me massively due to the nature of my job role.”

Daniel Leyland works as a Senior Quality Systems Engineer at 3M were they design and manufacture lifesaving equipment such as masks, air cylinders, carrying systems (harnesses) and filtration for the likes of fire-fighters, military and industrial companies.

He’s worked there for 10 years and had already completed his HND but after gaining sponsorship to complete his Top-up at the University Centre he has seen the benefits of gaining valuable skills.

Daniel added: “Some of the tools standards and processes that we’ve learned and used at College on this course for design manufacture I have took back to the company and they have found that they can be used as part of best practice.

“I’ve learned many things around operations management and decision making that I have took away from the course and these skills and knowledge will be useful in the future and should enhance my career progress. It’s good to see a degree that’s so broad and covers a lot of areas.”