The Motor Vehicle department at the Newtown site of Coleg Powys has been given a new Toyota engine. 

Toyota Manufacturing UK has released a number of their boxed and just off the production line Valvematic ZR 1.6/1.8 Auris Engines to allow students at Further Education Institutions in Wales to access new technologies.

This arrangement has happened due to Semta and Toyota Manufacturing UK setting up a Capital support project for FEIs in Wales.

Head of Engineering and Motor Vehicle Technology Kevin Morris said “Investing significantly in facilities, equipment and staff to deliver a changing curriculum is a substantial undertaking for any Further Education Institution, so when the news that a world class manufacturing company wanted to donate brand new equipment to the Motor Vehicle section reached the College we could not wait to take up this outstanding offer.”

The photograph shows Matthew Taylor, who is on the 14-16 futures programme, Kevin Morris and lecturers Andy Traylor and Matt Joy with the new Toyota Engine.  Matthew is a pupil from John Beddoes High School who is studying Motor Vehicle with the College alongside his GCSEs.  He is being presented with a canteen voucher, which he won through a draw that he was entered into following completing the Learner Voice Survey for the College.

MP Lembit Opik and AM Mick Bates visited Coleg Powys on Monday to have a look at the facilities for apprenticeships.  The event was arranged as part of Apprenticeship Week.

Mick and Lembit were given a tour of the agricultural facilities at the College’s farm, Fronlas Farm, and spoke to some of the 65 agricultural apprentices about the skills they have learnt whilst on the apprenticeship programme.  They saw first year students on the Foundation Modern Apprenticeship do practical work with the new lambs and second year Agricultural Mechanics do some welding work.

Apprenticeship Week, which is organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), has been launched to bring to life positive messages about apprenticeships and to encourage employers to support apprentices in private and public sector organisations.

The College currently deliver Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships in a range of occupations including Engineering, Motor Vehicle and Catering.  If you are an employer or a prospective apprentice and would like to find out more please contact The Business Services Unit on 0845 4086 266 or visit the website www.coleg-powys.ac.uk.

Andrew attended Bishops Castle High School. He had always been interested in cars and was very keen to combine practical work experience with college work. Andrew applied for a place on the Foundation Modern Apprenticeship course with Coleg Powys and secured a placement with Graham Brewin at the garage in Caerhowel. He achieved his NVQ Level 2 and associated Key Skills along with his City & Guilds 4101.

Andrew said: “Coleg Powys offered me the best facilities to do the course. The tutors were brilliant, always very helpful when I didn’t understand something. They were easy to get along with and very understanding”.

Following his success at Level 2 Andrew progressed to the Modern Apprenticeship Level 3 Programme and gained his NVQ Level 3 and associated Key Skills.