Passers-by at Redcar and Cleveland College might have noticed a new addition to the grounds. The college now has a 30-foot outdoor industrial training rig.
Created to replicate the demands of working in an industrial environment, the facility will support training in decommissioning, rope access and industrial competency.
College Principal Jason Faulkner said: “The training site will open up further opportunities not just for our students and young people but also those who are out of work and looking to retrain or upskill.”
Unveiled this week, the new rig will provide further training opportunities in the likes of rope access, decommissioning, job competencies, health and safety, as well as extending the college’s working at heights and confined spaces training.
Jason said: “The new facility forms part of a phased plan to ensure that the college, working with specialist partners including Total Solutions, can provide skilled, competent and safety aware individuals for the energy, engineering and advanced manufacturing industries.”
With the likes of the South Tees Development Corporation site plans, along with other large-scale projects in the pipeline across the region, Jason said it makes sense to equip people with the basic competency and behaviour training that employers are looking for.
It’s certainly good news for engineering students at the college who will get to practise their technical skills in an environment that replicates the real demands of a working site.
For engineering and relevant trade skills students it will offer the chance to get a taste of what life will be like at the height of their career.
Jason said: “The industrial training rig is 30 feet high, which, when you are at the top, gives a real feeling of height, especially when you are walking on the grating and can see the ground below.
“In addition, there’s the chance to test your technical skills when faced with the restrictions and accessibility issues of a tight space. No amount of classroom-based learning can prepare you for that.
“Our students will walk away, not just with the technical skills they need in their careers, but they will also have the high levels of competency and safety awareness that will make them ready for work.”
Welcoming the addition of the industrial training offer available at Redcar, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I was delighted to help launch this impressive new training rig which is another string in the bow for Redcar and Cleveland College and its dedication to educating our engineers of the future.
“With the world’s biggest offshore wind farm just 80-miles off our coast our region has developed an enviable reputation as a centre of excellence for the offshore wind industry, and with the official launch of Net Zero Teesside we are now leading the world in industrial-scale decarbonisation – meaning ground-breaking technologies will be developed right here in Teesside.
“Now we’ve taken control of the former Redcar steelworks site, we have the building blocks in place to deliver the good quality jobs we all want to see come to the region, and this new training rig will help give local people the skills they need to succeed in the jobs being brought to the site, as well as those we’re creating across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Leader Councillor Mary Lanigan said: “This is really good thinking and has the potential to benefit both our young people and our businesses for years to come. It is vital that our young people are properly prepared to enter the world of work with the right skills and knowledge for modern industry. Well done to everyone involved.”
College Principal Jason added: “As a college, we are listening to industry and responding to the challenges that they tell us they face. We want to ensure we are preparing people to help meet that demand.
“With the planned developments and opportunities ahead, we see there is an emerging need to provide individuals who are not only trained but also have the behaviours and safe working practices that industry needs. Employers want resilient young people or adults that are safety aware.
“We are trying to replicate a real industrial setting to help our students and adult learners develop the resilience, behaviours and safety awareness to be ready to work in those environments.”