News: Alcoa funds university initiatives to help students manufacture their future

Sheffield Hallam University has secured a £50,000 grant from the Alcoa Foundation to deliver a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills development programme for more than 300 young people and students.

In 2014, lightweight metals leader, Alcoa completed the acquisition of Firth Rixson, a global leader in aerospace jet engine components, in a deal worth £1.7 billion. The company has offices and facilities across Sheffield and Rotherham specialising in forgings and extrusions.

Th funding will enable half-day engineering masterclasses at the University for young people aged 14-18 from schools and colleges across the city. Hundreds of students will be able to take part over the next academic year.

Sheffield Hallam will partly match the funding to encourage and support schools and colleges in low participation areas to get involved in the programme. Students who complete the masterclasses will be awarded ten UCAS points to support and enhance their application to study engineering or mathematics at the University.

A second initiative will roll out a BTEC Level 3 qualification across the city region which has previously only been available at King Edward VII School in Sheffield. Funding will give students at other schools and colleges the chance to use the University's science and engineering facilities as part of their study.

A job-readiness programme for final year STEM students at the University is the final initiative that will support job search and provide an opportunity for students to hone their technical CVs and applications, as well as to practice interview techniques.

Additionally, ten students will compete for internships of up to 140 hours at a variety of employers.

Conor Moss, director of education and employer partnerships at Sheffield Hallam said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Alcoa Foundation on this exciting new initiative.

"STEM skills development is crucial, and these three initiatives will support young people to develop these skills across the city region, and help our graduates to find well-paid professional and technical roles in the manufacturing and engineering industry."

Sean Khosrovani, vice president of operations excellence at Alcoa Forgings and Extrusions, added: "Alcoa Foundation funds non-profit organisations to help support the communities where our employees work and live. Partnering with Sheffield Hallam University clearly aligns with Alcoa's aim to help prepare the next generation of students for demanding careers in manufacturing and to advance science and engineering."

The Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the United States, with assets of approximately $480m. Partnering with Discovery Education in the US, the foundation runs the "Manufacture your Future" project to cultivate the next generation of manufacturing leaders and innovators.

Alcoa website
Sheffield Hallam website

Images: Alcoa

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News: Brinsworth Training apprentices join Alcoa

Rotherham-based Brinsworth Training has worked successfully with US firm, Alcoa to support 14 new engineering apprentices at its two former Firth Rixson sites in Sheffield.


In November, lightweight metals leader, Alcoa completed the acquisition of Firth Rixson, a global leader in aerospace jet engine components, in a deal worth £1.7 billion. The company recently secured a deal to supply Boeing with aluminum sheet and plate products in a multiyear contract valued at more than $1 billion.

The apprentices are currently undergoing up to 14 weeks of intensive, basic training at Brinsworth Training in Rotherham. With state of the art facilities at Templeborough, specialist and bespoke engineering training is provided to leading local firms including AESSEAL, KP, Kostal and Premier Foods.

Nine apprentices are based at the Meadowhall site and are being trained in machine operations and computer-controlled systems. Three apprentices at Ecclesfield will work in laboratories in the technical department.

Jen Bramley, operations director of Brinsworth Training, said: "As the manufacturing industry's fortunes are turned around they need staff with the right skills to carry out the work.

"And young people need the skills to do the jobs out there; so apprenticeships are a great way to marry the needs of both school leavers and industry."

After hearing about the Introduction 2 Engineering pilot run through the Academy of Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence (AMEE), 17-year-old Joseph Askham approached Brinsworth Training and spent eight weeks in the training centre learning bench fitting and engineering maintenance techniques.

AMEE delivers solutions identified by local employers to address sector skill and staff shortages. Part-funded by the government's Employer Ownership Fund, AMEE runs until 2017 and has a strategic advisory board made up of more than 20 employers from the engineering and manufacturing sector. It has a target of training up to 800 young people and placing 300 jobless into apprenticeships.

Joseph was also given support with interview techniques and CV and profile writing, before being offered the apprenticeship and is now studying for a level 3 qualification in mechanical engineering, initially at Brinsworth Training, before moving to spend more time at Alcoa.

Jo Banks, HR advisor at Alcoa, said: "What we look for in apprentice is someone with the aptitude and enthusiasm to do the job. Then we need to work closely with them to gain the skills and knowledge, which is why it is so good to have Brinsworth Training as a partner."

Brinsworth Training website
Alcoa website

Images: Brinsworth Training

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