Sandvik host local schools during Engineers Week

Company’s Ballygawley site welcomes school students from local area to encourage careers in engineering

SANDVIK Mobile Crushers and Screens based in Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, welcomed schools from the local area to celebrate Engineers Week 2019 in early March.

On arrival, students were given an overview of Sandvik, the different career paths available in engineering and also how members of Sandvik staff became engineers and the education behind their careers to date. 

The event included a factory tour and sessions in Sandvik’s new Learning and Development Suite, which was used to complete a range of competitive engineering activities.

Students also had the chance to engage in an Augmented Reality Experience – a 3D animation that allowed the students to have a 360-degree Sandvik machine walk-around showing all aspects of the machine using the latest digital technology.

Peter Quinn, President of Engineers Ireland, was welcomed by Sandvik on one of the days. He shared his engineering background with the students and joined the group on the factory tour and in the activities.

Commenting on Engineers Week 2019 and thanking Sandvik for their involvement in the annual, all-island festival of engineering, Mr Quinn (right of photo) said: ‘Engineers Week is part of our Engineers Ireland STEPS programme where we aim to spark young people’s imaginations about science, technology, engineering and maths, and provide them with role models and real-world opportunities to engage with the engineering community.

‘I am delighted Sandvik have been involved in Engineers Week – and in such a comprehensive way, with their factory tour for students, a chance to meet engineers and some exciting and fun training in their development suite.

‘It is absolutely crucial that industry works with the education sector to make technical areas like engineering appealing and stimulating to our students right across the education spectrum. We need to encourage young people to consider a career in engineering.

‘It’s obvious from the range of activities organized by Sandvik that the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. And this is what Engineers Week is all about – creating and fostering a life-long interest in engineering by capturing the imagination of young people and encouraging them to explore the abundance of diverse possibilities a career in the sector can offer.’

Eamonn Whelan (left of photo), site manager of Sandvik Ballygawley, added: ‘Northern Ireland’s global competitiveness is challenged by a lack of skilled trades and engineers. We hope that by opening up Sandvik to students, we have shown how dynamic, wide-ranging and fulfilling careers in engineering can be.

‘If this week’s activities have inspired even a few of the students to consider apprenticeships or engineering courses at university or college, then we would consider that a great outcome.’