Our T Level - Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing learners were invited to Cosworth’s Northampton base, where they were given unparalleled insight into the leading automotive engineering company.
Specialising in high-performance internal combustion engines, powertrain, and electronics for automobile racing (motorsport) and mainstream automotive industries, Cosworth was the perfect company to demonstrate the varied and dynamic roles our learners can progress into after studying with us. Throughout the day, learners were led through interactive workshops with Cosworth professionals and apprentices.
Our learners had the opportunity to speak with Cos, a degree apprentice at Cosworth who graduated from a UTC himself, about why he decided to use his engineering qualifications to join Cosworth. Following an insightful talk about apprenticeships at Cosworth, learners enjoyed a CV masterclass. Through interactive activities, learners explored the best way to structure to a CV and looked at exemplar passages in order to best understand the dos and don’ts of writing a CV “My favourite part of the Cosworth trip was the first CV session. A CV was described as a ‘living document’ meaning that it should always be developing as I grow, learn more and gain new experiences. That piece of advice will always stick with me,” Adeola, learner.
Learners enjoyed a tour of Cosworth’s impressive Northampton base, where they were invited to peek behind the curtain of exclusive projects and privileged technology. Although we cannot go into detail about some of the wonderful automative technology we experienced, learner Onnesha shared what she enjoyed most about the tour, “it gave me an overview of everything that happens in Cosworth and also helped me to better understand which areas of engineering I’m interested in going into for my future career.”
A key component of an engine, A car wiring loom is a collection of electrical cables or wires that transmit signals or electrical power. Led by Wiring & Electronic Technicians Sandra and Sonia, our learners enjoyed a demonstration of how to wire a loom and how to test the loom. They then got the opportunity to make their own loom and take part in an exercise using a diagram to make sure the wiring loom is pinned correctly. Learner Aleks shared, “working to create looms gave us an insight into another part of the company and how this role requires human hands rather than automation.”
In an exciting presentation exercise, learners had to work in teams, step into the shoes of Cosworth employees and pitch the V16 hypercar engine to a potential buyer. In groups of 5, with a sales director at the helm, learners had to gather information and present a compelling pitch. Santiago, who artfully described the engine’s roar as a ‘symphony of power and precision during his team’s pitch shared, “I really enjoyed creating a pitch for the engine with my team and working together to come up with different ideas.”
This trip to Cosworth has been truly impactful for our T levels learners who were able to experience so many different facets of such a remarkable company. Every employee we had the pleasure of meeting with spoke with passion and expertise. Our learners have no doubt left more informed and inspired about engineering.
Huge thank you to Nick Greenway; this would not have been possible without his dedication to supporting our learners. Thanks also to Fatema Chowdhury for facilitating such a successful day.
