The AMRC Training Centre is always on the look-out for a real life jobs for their young apprentices to work on. Recently Newburgh Precision Ltd contacted the Centre and asked them if they would be interested in refurbishing a lathe as part of a community project.

The lathe's final destination is for Hope Valley College whose Teacher of Engineering and Design Technology, Martin Streets said "the lathe will further enhance our facilities and allow us to offer an applied and relevant experience to our engineering and technology students at GCSE level and across the curriculum. We are totally committed to raising the profile of Design Technology and particularly Engineering and are delighted to be associated with both the AMRC and Newburgh Precision, who share our vision of engineering excellence through their continued generosity and support. It is pleasing to see so many of our ex-pupils doing well, both at Newburgh  and at the AMRC and the commissioning of the new lathe will contribute greatly to developing future generations of engineers."

David Greenan, Managing Director, Newburgh Precision Ltd said "we are keen to support the local community and Hope Valley College in particular in this way to help develop the next generation of engineers that will secure the future of our business and the wider engineering and manufacturing sectors."

Once the lathe arrived, two trainers, David Smith and Brian Allot, set up a project team and divided the apprentices into three groups, each responsible for a different part.

Chris Wain, an apprentice for Technicut, was appointed the project leader. He said “its going well and we are organised. We started properly by doing the paperwork and sorting out the permit to work, the risk assessment and the method statement. Once that was done we gave the lathe a deep clean and that uncovered some hidden faults.”

When asked how he was enjoying leading the project he said “the team seem to be listening to me and they are all eager to get on.  Im enjoying gaining new experience in dealing with customers and suppliers and ordering replacement components and parts”.

David Smith, one of the trainers, said “Im really pleased by the professional attitude of the apprentices. They are learning the fundamentals of how a project should be delivered and this will stand them in good stead when they go back into the workplace”.

Photo –pictured left to right

Jordan Rynell (Chapmans), Daniel Hardy (Rolls-Royce), David Smith (AMRC trainer), Chris Wain (Technicut), Mitchell Dunstan (University of Sheffield), Bradley Shaw (University of Sheffield), Sam Rickell (ATI Allvac)