EAL’s Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Engineering Technology, mapped to F1 in schools activities, picked up the qualification of the year.
It came as Carolyn Barker (pictured), EAL’s head of governance and regulation was elected to the FAB board as a director.
She said: “Winning the award is fantastic recognition of the team’s hard work in developing the qualification and its innovative links with F1 in Schools. It is a new qualification so to pick up this award is a real boost for us.”
The F1 in Schools Technology Challenge provides an educational experience. Teams of learners aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered polyurethane based F1 cars.
The challenge is designed to inspire learners to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership/teamwork, media skills and financial strategy, and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way.
FAB’s chief executive Stephen Wright said: “"The EAL entry had everything we could have wished for. Engineering is a key sector for the success of the whole economy however, research from the Royal Academy of Engineering suggests that by 2020 we will need more than a million new engineers and technicians.
“The Level 1 Foundation Certificate is just the sort of qualification that can help close the skills gap, plugging into the F1 in Schools competition to introduce 15 to 18 year olds to the basic principles of engineering in an engaging and inspiring way with a combination of practical workshops and theory sessions. A well designed qualification in a key sector makes it a very worthy FAB qualification of the year winner.”
Meanwhile, British businesses will soon be able to boost their supply chains and benefit their local communities by presenting them with funded apprenticeships, a Minister has revealed.
Skills Minister Nick Boles, MP told the All Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships that government was planning to allow businesses to ‘donate’ apprenticeships to others.
The APPG, supported by awarding organisation EAL, heard that proposals about to be introduced to Parliament included this policy shift. The Apprenticeship Levy – to be paid by ‘larger companies’ employing apprentices – will help fund a system of tokens to be exchanged for training youngsters and up skilling the current workforce.
EAL managing director Julia Chippendale said: “This is a terrific concept and a wonderful boost to SMEs – which took the meeting by surprise. Industry has been looking for innovative ideas to secure the supply chain – so vital to keep the system functioning – and this is just that.”
