An Apprentice at Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form has impressed his tutors and employers with his design project.

19 year old Waqar Naweed, is a former pupil of Pendle Vale College who first joined the College on an A Level programme, completing AS Level Chemistry, Biology, Computing and Critical Thinking. However, he decided that A Levels weren’t quite the right route for him and moved on to a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering. Finding his niche, Waqar has achieved great success on the programme and has impressed his tutors from the start.

Part of the course sees students undertake a design project, where they must design, plan and manufacture their own creation. This is treated as a ‘real life’ brief and must be completed to the highest professional specification. Waqar designed and manufactured an electronic vice, which was highly praised by the engineering tutors.

The College has an outstanding reputation for engineering in the local community and has the College has recently achieved STEM Assured Status, which recognises excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and is one of only four colleges in the country to achieve this prestigious accolade. Utilising techniques he’d learnt throughout the course, such as turning, CNC techniques and welding, Waqar said he designed the vice as he thought it would be useful to him from a professional and personal point of view!

His tutor, John Wood said, “Waqar has performed excellently throughout the engineering apprenticeship programme. His attitude towards the apprenticeship is one grounded in professionalism and an enquiring outlook – he frequently seeks to develop further understanding of syllabus topics and work areas beyond that needed to succeed on these programmes. He has completed a number of advanced extension tasks involving CNC programming and other skills. In order to complete the whole of the National Diploma, which he commenced before becoming an apprentice, he has worked exceptionally well – in particular he has developed and produced a working project embodying a range of engineering skills and knowledge.”

Waqar’s employers at Hycrome Europe Limited have been likewise impressed by the professional skills he has shown and Laura Snape, HR and Training Co-orinator said “Waqar joined Hycrome as an Apprentice last summer and has continued to impress us since his first interview back then. Alongside the glowing reports we regularly receive about him from college, Waqar has worked really well during the interim weeks he has been at Hycrome. He quickly settled into a department and receives high praise for his work already. We are certainly keen to have Waqar back with us full time this summer!”