Change can be a daunting experience, especially when the future is unknown. However, for many, change can come with a multitude of benefits. Here, Lucy Speed, HR advisor at engineering solutions provider, Boulting Group, explains the important role work-based placements have on the evolving engineering sector. 

The way in which people are entering the field of engineering is changing. For many years, apprenticeships were often the top choice for those embarking on a new career, as the hands-on experience allowed them to build on-the-job knowledge, while earning a wage.

For many years, the engineering sector has thrived on the talent produced by apprenticeships, but as organisations diversified, offering new products and services, the skills required of new employees has also had to change. 

With the demand for higher education increasing among 18-year olds, many young people are heading to university to gain relevant engineering qualifications. While they may leave with a degree and knowledge of the sector, we find that applicants quite often lack any real practical experience. For this reason, project-based work experience and placements are becoming increasingly important. 

A project-based placement allows a student to develop practical experience that supports the learning and theory they have gained as part of their studies. At Boulting Group, the project they work on is dependent on their experience, as we aim to make the placement as relevant as possible. 

Upon starting a placement, each student is assigned to a member of the project team who will support them. The individual will shadow their mentor, attending site visits, client meetings and be assigned specific tasks to complete for that project. 

These activities allow students by put their knowledge into context, giving them the skills to tackle real-life work situations, find solutions  and develop a career in engineering. The process also allows us to provide a structured learning development programme with a future career path in mind. 

Our Warrington office has worked closely with Liverpool John Moores University to reinforce the benefits of placements amongst its students. One of the key challenges for universities is to focus on employability and to provide students with the skills and behaviours they need to transition from their studies in to the workplace. 

By working more closely with schools, colleges and universities, we hope to tackle this issue head-on. If the sector does not diversify its workforce and fails to attract new talent, the skills gap will never be resolved and the industry will suffer.  

With so much talent emerging, we see a bright future for the engineering industry and believe change, in this instance, is for the better. 

The programme consists of a comprehensive survey, conducted by Boulting’s engineers, that assesses control systems across a facility detailing the potential risks posed by equipment, such as control system failure, critical obsolescence and other scenarios that could cause unplanned downtime. This allows plant managers to spot problems before they happen and put solutions in place.

The initial online survey assesses areas such as obsolete parts, equipment life cycle, and efficiency. The corresponding report uses a traffic light system to make multi stage recommendations which are based on clients’ key parameters providing a hierarchy of risk. This helps to characterise and focus on the high risk critical systems in the first instance, enabling the plant manager to implement an appropriate and cost-effective action plan.

Many industry sectors, such as manufacturing, rely on technology and the data it produces to aid production. Lost or corrupt data can lead to expensive downtime and can be difficult to restore. 

Boulting Technology understands the importance of using preventative measures to avoid the consequences of leaving computer systems open to viruses. Its new infographic explains how some of the most notorious viruses of the digital age, such as Stuxnet, Flame and the Blackout Worm, have impacted businesses across a variety of sectors. 

Nick Boughton, sales manager at Boulting Technology, comments: “Cyber security has become top of the agenda for many businesses over recent weeks, following the Wanna Decryptor (WannaCry) ransomware attack in May, which crippled the NHS and many other organisations across the globe. 

“While it is difficult to predict the likelihood of a virus targeting a computer, companies should take preventative measures, like installing antivirus software, to ensure they are not at risk of losing data.

“Legacy systems can present numerous problems as they do not contain as many safeguards as newer systems. At Boulting Technology we develop and install bespoke control systems which aid in both highlighting and resolving potential problems.

“Our infographic highlights the importance of protecting against hacking and viruses. Computer security researchers are constantly developing ways to enable antivirus solutions to more effectively detect, prevent and destroy new viruses, however it is up to businesses themselves to ensure they are protected.”

The infographic is free to download from  http://www.boultingtechnology.co.uk/pdf/BOU104_-Top_5_Industrial_Computer_Viruses_Infographic_FINAL.PDF.