The “clubbers” got up early on 16 Saturday mornings to be at CEME for a 9 o’clock start. There they had hands on experience of metalwork, electrical wiring, design and lathe work; coming away with a toolbox and DVD tower that they had made themselves.

The guest speaker at the celebration was Leigh Collins a process engineer with Ford Motor Company who started her career training for a Ford apprenticeship and is now studying for her foundation degree at CEME. She spoke to the students about her study path, experiences and encouraged them to take up one of the many different careers in engineering and manufacturing. She then presented each student with their certificate and a set of tools to go in their toolboxes.

Teenagers get up on a Saturday morning

Proud father Neill Mackay said “My son George thoroughly enjoyed the course. He loves coming to see me at work and has now had the chance to use professional equipment himself. The course has also made a difference to his school work with noticeable improvements.”

Student Martin Banning said afterwards” It was great making our toolboxes and DVD towers and the course has helped improve my concentration and motivation in school.” His father added “He looked forward to going to CEME on Saturday mornings as it was a positive place to be, with good and helpful teachers”

Andrew Bull, project co-ordinator at CEME, says” I hope that we will see more students joining the Saturday Clubs and that it gives them ideas for their future careers and the many possibilities open to them”

The Saturday club run by CEME’s Gateway for Skills project is funded by the LDA and local schools with the aim to give the young “Clubbers” hands on experience of engineering and manufacturing. Several hundred students have attended Saturday Clubs since they were set up some seven years ago. Many participants have gone on to careers in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, including apprenticeships with local companies.