YOUNG engineers showed off their skills during an awards and engineering department open evening at Appleby Heritage Centre.

With a national shortage of skilled craftsmen, the centre is doing its bit to develop such skills in the region's young people.

The evening started with a tour of the department followed by a demonstration by the engineering students who come from across the Westmorland Messenger area.

General manager John Weir said: "Appleby Grammar School, Kirkby Stephen Grammar School and ourselves have developed courses in engineering for pupils aged 14 to 16."

Appleby Grammar School students looking for a career in engineering are getting hands-on experience and working towards their City and Guilds Progression Award in the centre's workshop.

The qualification is usually taken by post-16 students, but Year ten students aged 15 and 16 are enjoying the challenge of practical work.

John said: "The underpinning reason for running the courses is to develop the value and work for people with hands-on occupations including electricians, plumbers, mechanics, engineers and builders.

"We aim to develop and widen the courses that we offer. These courses are very expensive, due to the variety of resources needed to run them. They cut into course tutor time and need costly equipment and materials to make them of value to the young people.

"We need individuals and companies to sponsor us. This can be in a variety of ways - it may be with a piece of equipment that you now have no use for, or with materials. If we are to make the course a valuable experience the students need to use a wide variety of materials. We need relevant, experienced work placements, visiting speakers or organisations to visit. We would also like companies to consider sponsoring an individual student."

Students are enjoying the new, exciting opportunities.

Craig Robinson said: "I have just finished making a set square. I have learnt the importance of being accurate, and what the two sides of a file are for. I want to be able to make things at home."

Philip Capstick said: "The best part of the course is that I am learning to use my hands and to use equipment that I haven't used before. I would like to do this when I leave school."

Fellow Appleby Grammar School student Andrew Park added: "I have really enjoyed learning how to use the lathe."

Mike Farley, executive director of Cumbria Learning and Skills Council, presented certificates to students who had achieved awards at the evening.

April 15, 2003 16:30