BRIGHT young things are engineering their way to a successful future.

Year 10 girls from Smithills High School took part in a engineering taster day. They enjoyed a taste of vocational related activities hosted by Horwich-based Alliance Learning and GTA — Group Training Association — England.

The group of 10 students visited Alliance Learning’s training centre to gain an insight into engineering and the different opportunities that this area could lead onto.

They had a chance to take part in classroom and practical activities so pupils experienced how they become a qualified engineer, by Alliance Learning Engineering Tutors, Andrew Crawford and David Hilton.

The pupils each made a fidget spinner, they used a range of engineering equipment such as reamers, surface tables, angle plates as well as using a vernier height gauge which enabled accurate marking out.

The pupils also found out techniques such as product design, hacksawing, filing, reaming and in addition to this they were also taught how to calculate the correct speed of the drilling machine to carry out the drilling process.

Julie Robinson, CEO of Alliance Learning, said: “We view our partnerships with local schools an essential development tool in local learning. Alliance know how important it is for young adults to be exposed to as many career avenues as possible, in order to give them a clearer direction in later education.”

She added: “Well done to the pupils of Smithills High School, who showed great understanding and initiative in all areas of the different engineering activities.”

Figures from the Women’s Engineering Society show that only nine per cent of the engineering workforce is female.

And only six per cent of registered engineers and technicians— CEng, IEng, EngTech — are women.

The UK has the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe, at less than 10 per cent while Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus lead with nearly 30 per cent.

Alliance Learning visits local schools / careers centres to discuss taster days and Apprenticeship programmes in more detail.

For more information contact the Alliance Learning Marketing team on 01204 677888 or visit www.alliancelearning.com