MTC placements win university award

The MTC was named "Best Large Placement Employer" in the University of Leicester's Placements Awards 2020. The awards, presented at a virtual ceremony, were created to recognise the invaluable industry experiences that employers give degree students out on placement.

The in-work experience gained by students on the placement element of their degree builds on their academic training to enable them to apply their knowledge and deliver tangible value to employers in the workplace.

George Cattle, one of the latest University of Leicester students to embark on a placement at the MTC, said the university’s judges were looking for a company that showed dedication and encouragement to placement students while helping them gain transferable employability skills.

He said, “The university chose the MTC as the award winner because of the brilliant opportunities and support that the centre offers to young people. I’m just one of many lucky students from all age groups and backgrounds who have had an opportunity to gain fantastic practical experience in both engineering and business within an innovative and exciting organisation.”

Over the past eight years, the MTC has provided placement opportunities for more than 40 students from academic institutions including its founding universities, the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, and the University of Nottingham, as well as others including Aston, Cambridge, Coventry, Sheffield and Swansea.

Dr Clive Hickman, MTC chief executive, said that providing university placements was vital to the business’s strategy.

“The MTC’s core purpose is to create a significant positive impact on society. Providing high quality placements that provide real-life experience in our emerging technologies is a natural part of our commitment to helping to empower industry through skills, and creating the next generation of engineering professionals," he said.

He added, "Working alongside our world-class engineers and participating in live customer projects means that these engineers-in-the-making gain confidence and competence during their time with us, so they’re ready to deliver real impact right from the start of their independent careers.”

The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd. The MTC’s industrial members include some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.

The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.