Murrelektronik team up with Wigan University Technical College to offer students overseas work placement

This October, two promising Engineering students from Wigan University Technical College will have the opportunity to undertake an invaluable work placement abroad in the esteemed Murrelektronik headquarters.  PIF catch up with Murrelektronik to find out how the opportunity came about.

Two of the UK’s most promising young Engineering students have been selected for a work placement in Oppenweiler, Germany. Murrelektronik is one of the leading worldwide manufacturers of power distribution components and systems for industrial automation. In October, the Wigan UTC students will become part of the Murrelektronik manufacturing team and gain an insight into how over 42,000 products and components are produced for industries and market segments including Machine Building and Plant Engineering, Food & Beverage, Processing & Packaging, Automotive, Warehousing & Logistics.

The UK branch of Murrelektronik has an ongoing partnership with Wigan UTC. Murrelektronik is one of the UTC’s international employer partners who, in addition to providing scholarship opportunities for UTC students, currently sponsor an electronics teaching laboratory at the UTC which is equipped with Murrelektronik equipment and used to support the delivery of the UTC’s unique science, technology, engineering and mathematics based curriculum.

Engineering scholarship opportunities

Wigan UTC students have taken part in a rigorous selection process. Starting with an initial application form and CV, followed by a written research project, assessed by UK Murrelektronik Managing Director Peter Rogers. The students also had to hone their presentation skills and present their findings to Mr Rogers, Marketing Manager Korina Parker and staff from the UTC in September 2015. Now, successful students Fiona Bradshaw and Elliot Morris, both studying A levels and technical diplomas in engineering, have the opportunity to gain valuable practical skills to complement their academic achievements.

Commenting on the scholarship scheme, Peter Rogers said

Murrelektronik UK are proud to sponsor this scholarship scheme. We see this as a wonderful opportunity for Wigan UTC students to gain an insight into Murrelektronik and our industry. This may in turn lead them to employment as engineers in Germany or in the UK. Murrelektronik UK Marketing Manager Korina Parker went on to say “Wigan UTC is a great educational establishment which offers students options at 18 years of age to go onto University or take on high status engineering apprenticeships. We hope that our strengthening relationship with the UTC will mean one day students from Wigan secure jobs with us here in the UK or at one of our international manufacturing sites.

Wigan UTC Academy Principal, Chris Hatherall, said “This is the second year Murrelektronik have sponsored a scholarship for UTC students. This is a world class and life changing opportunity for UTC students. I look forward to celebrating the successes of this year’s applicants”. He went on to say “Last year’s participants, Charlie Kay and Thomas Hindley have both secured their futures with thanks in part to their experiences in Germany last year. Charlie has been successful in applying for one of the most competitive apprenticeship places available beating over 2000 other applicants and securing a place with Jaguar Land Rover and Thomas has secured a place at University to study automotive engineering - one or the largest manufacturing sectors that Murrelektronik supply into”.

We think you’ll agree that both students have fared extremely well and should be proud of this great achievement in the field of Engineering at such a young age and we wish them all the best with their placement this forthcoming October with Murrelektronik in Germany.

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