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Top training helps Cody kick-start career

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Successful motor vehicle alumnus Cody Brookes returned to Reaseheath to share how his time at college helped kick-start his career in the motor industry.

Cody,19, from Nantwich, addressed a captive audience of 40 students in our state-of-the-art Motor Vehicle Technology Centre, with a presentation on starting out in the industry. He shared with students how the knowledge and training gained whilst studying at Reaseheath helped him to secure his first professional role as an apprentice technician with the well-known automotive manufacturer, Audi.

Cody Brookes addresses students in Reaseheath’s Motor Vehicle Technology Centre

Cody Brookes addresses students in Reaseheath’s Motor Vehicle Technology Centre

Based at the Crewe Audi dealership, Cody explained to students how he is supported in his role through Audi’s prestigious Modern Apprenticeship Programme. This 3 year scheme combines full-time employment with block-release training and is designed to equip employees with the technical skills and knowledge to become fully qualified service technicians for the brand.

Cody studied both IMI Levels 2 and 3 in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair during his time at Reaseheath and was thrilled to be invited back to the campus. Our latest cohort of motor vehicle students were very impressed with Cody’s industry knowledge and drive to succeed.

Said Cody: “I’m so grateful for support and training I received at Reaseheath. The experience and skills I gained gave me the confidence to focus my career aspirations and get a great job with good career prospects.”

Motor vehicle students joined by Cody Brookes, Programme Leader Ryan Johnson and Course Manager Steve Ellis

Motor vehicle students and staff joined by Cody Brookes

 

 

Reaseheath vehicle technicians give Santa a helping hand

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Santa’s sleigh will slide more slickly round the streets of Nantwich thanks to pre-season preparation by Reaseheath’s student vehicle technicians.

Students from our Levels 2 and 3 IMI Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair courses, along with pupils on our 14 -16 years schools programme, have overhauled the sleigh in time for its festive charity trip around town with The Rotary Club of Nantwich.

For the third year running our students have carried out general maintenance including repairs to the generator, welding a new frame and a full check of the fairy lights. They have also repainted the sleigh and decorated it with new decals.

Rotary Club Membership Secretary John Crowe said: “Families look forward to a visit from Santa in the period running up to Christmas and it gives us the chance to raise money for worthy local charities.

“Reaseheath’s students do a wonderful job and we are always confident that the sleigh will be looking at its best.”

Said Level 2 student Callum Dix: “Renovating Santa’s sleigh gave us a chance to use many of the skills we’ve learned. It was also good to be involved in a project which will benefit the local community.”

The Rotary Club of Nantwich typically raises around £5,000 over the Christmas period for worthy causes. Santa and his sleigh will be in Nantwich on:

Evenings:

Monday December 8 (Queens Drive)

Tuesday December 9 (Manor Road)

Wednesday December 10 (Wellington Road)

Thursday December 11 (Shrewbridge Road)

Monday December 15 (Cronkinson East)

Tuesday December 16 (Cronkinson West)

Wednesday December 17 (Kingsley Fields)

Daytime:

Friday December 12 (Sainsbury’s)

Thursday December 18 (The Square)

Friday December 19 (Sainsbury’s)

Vehicle technicians drive careers forward

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Aftersales Manager John Oakley with new recuit Cody Brookes 11th Nov 2014 3MB

 Last week, Alumni Officer Katie Burt visited two former motor vehicle students in their new work places, accompanied by Programme Leader Ryan Johnson.

 

Cody Brookes and Jack Salt at Reaseheath Presentation of Awards 2013. Congratulated by Peter Kendall, Emily Thrane and Principal Meredydd David as top Level 2 Motor Vehicle

Cody Brookes and Jack Salt congratulated as Level 2 motor vehicle ‘top students’ alongside Peter Kendall, Emily Thrane and Principal Meredydd at Reaseheath’s FE Presentation of Awards 2013.

The two students, Cody Brookes and Jack Salt studied Levels 2 and 3 IMI Diplomas in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair during their time at college.  Both Cody and Jack have gone straight onto prestigious training programmes within the motor industry having completed their studies this summer.

Cody is training as an apprentice technician with Crewe Audi, whilst Jack is working in a similar role, developing his skills with Robert Eardley Skoda in Crewe.

Jack mentioned: “I gained a great set of skills at college, which I’m developing even further in my new job. Support from staff and working with other students helped to give me the confidence I needed to start my career at Skoda.”

Jack Salt with Robert Eardley Skoda Gen Man Brett Davies and Aftersales Manager Paul Griffiths 4MB

Jack Salt alongside Robert Eardley Skoda’s General Manager Brett Davies and Aftersales Manager Paul Griffiths

Working alongside Jack at Robert Eardley are a further three former Reaseheath students, who are all in training to become fully qualified service technicians for Skoda.

Both dealerships were impressed by Reaseheath’s drive to encourage young people to develop technical and specialist industry knowledge. Crewe Audi’s Aftersales Manager John Oakley went on to comment: “It’s fantastic to work with young people like Cody, who are confidently focused on their future careers and are keen to learn.

“I believe studying at Reaseheath gives young people the foundation they need to be successful in the industry.”

 

Positive comments on social media from Crewe Audi about our students

Great comments from Crewe Audi

 

 

We love to hear about where life has taken our former students – the next steps they have taken and the successes they are experiencing.

If you have story you would like to share, please contact us on alumni@reaseheath.ac.uk or +44 (0)1270 613 219 – it would be great to hear from you.

 

 

 

 

Motor vehicle students

Raceway trip proved no drag for IMI motor vehicle students

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When the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) announced that they were giving away tickets to Santa Pod Raceway for the National Hot Rod Finals, the motor vehicle technology team decided that they would organise a trip for the students to witness the world of Top Fuel Dragster racing.

A selection of students from Level 1, 2 and 3 IMI Motor Vehicle courses attended the day trip to see cars and motorbikes competing head-to-head along the quarter of a mile long strip.

Motor Vehicle Santa Pod racewayOn arrival, all the students were treated to a pit lane walk and were able to spend the rest of the day looking around the vehicles that would be competing in the high-octane action.

As the students took to their seats and pressed home the ear plugs that we wisely took with us, the cars took to the starting lines. The engines were revved and burnouts took place to warm the tyres. As the lights ticked down to green the grandstands were filled with noise, you could feel the ground shaking beneath you as the cars and bikes accelerated from 0-100mph in under two seconds. Nearly all of the top fuel cars were completing the course in less than 6 seconds, reaching straight line speeds of over 240mph.

For many of the students this was their first experience of drag racing and all of them came away with some great memories of their first visit to Santa Pod.

For further details on Reaseheath’s Motor Vehicle courses see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/motor-vehicle.

Steve Ellis

Course Manager, IMI Level 3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair

 

Speedy learning curve for future engineers

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Future engineers from local primary and secondary schools learned about the science and technology behind a 1,000 mph record attempt during a visit to Reaseheath College in Nantwich.

Twelve schools from Nantwich, Crewe, Sandbach, Haslington, Stoke and Cannock were invited to take part in activities involving the Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC), the vehicle which will attempt the 1,000mph land speed record in South Africa in 2016.

Georgina Hardy and Adam Caunt, both 13, from Brine Leas School with their Kinex car

Georgina Hardy and Adam Caunt, both 13, from Brine Leas School with their Kinex car

A replica of Bloodhound SSC, along with its education team, was a key attraction at Reaseheath’s Family Festival in May and remained on campus for a week to allow local pupils to learn more about the exciting project.

The event was run in support of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths), a national education initiative to inspire young people to consider engineering as a career. The UK needs to attract 100,000 new engineers into the industry each year and currently recruits just 30,000 annually.

Up to 120 pupils at Key Stages 2 and 3 visited Reaseheath each day to learn about Bloodhound SSC’s development, which is being supported by some of the world’s leading engineering companies including Rolls Royce.

Braden Jones, Ben Jackson and Bloodhound ambassador Claire Stewart watch Joshua Malkin on simulator

The young people had a chance to look at the car and those who asked the best questions were rewarded with a drive on a simulator. Other activities included constructing and testing an air driven Kinex car, 3D printing and planning a specially prepared desert base for the car and its support teams.

Brine Leas School, Nantwich, Year 8 pupil Georgina Hardy, 13, who had just tested the aerodynamics of her Kinex car, said: “I don’t know what I’m going to do for a career but this has definitely given me an insight into engineering. The whole day has been very interesting and a lot of fun.”

Reaseheath FE Marketing Officer Stephanie Owen explained: “We invited our local schools into college so they could make the most of the wonderful opportunity offered by Bloodhound and its team. Reaseheath totally supports STEM projects and we hope that some of our young visitors will be inspired to become the engineers of the future.”

For more about careers in engineering and science see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/engineering and www.bloodhoundssc.com

 

Speed car pioneer inspires Reaseheath College’s engineers

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The second fastest men on earth has urged Reaseheath College’s motor vehicle and engineering students to reach for the stars by focusing on careers as professional engineers and scientists.

Richard Noble OBE, former holder of the world land speed record and director of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) Project, described the tremendous opportunities which exist in research, design and build as he launched the Nantwich, Cheshire, college’s upgraded motor vehicle technology department.

The state-of-the-art automotive workshops have undergone over one million pounds of investment and are fitted out with the latest diagnostic equipment. During his tour, Richard chatted to students working on a range of modern vehicles including the college’s own hybrid car. He also admired an eco challenge car, built as a competition project by visiting school pupils, which achieves 350 miles per gallon.

Congratulating Reaseheath on its drive to encourage young people to develop technical knowledge, he said: “The facilities and training here are exactly what the future is all about. Britain’s car fleet is getting increasingly more complex and Reaseheath College is consistently raising the bar for next generation engineers.

“It’s been fascinating to meet so many students who are confidently looking towards their future careers and are keen to learn. There’s a nice buzz about the place and the workshops are superb. What’s notable is that these young people already have many of the technical skills they require to get on in the industry.”

After his tour, Richard gave an inspirational talk to the college’s 250 motor vehicle and agricultural engineering students about the advanced technology which will support his attempt on a new land speed record with BloodhoundSSC.

The complex racing car, built by a multi-national team and sponsored by blue chip companies including Rolls Royce, will attempt to reach 800mph in Northern Cape, South Africa in 2015 and a landmark 1,000 mph in 2016. It will be driven by former RAF fighter pilot Wing Comander Andy Green.

Video and data from the exciting project will be streamed live on internet and accessible for colleges and schools.

Richard, a qualified pilot and entrepreneur, held the world land speed record of 633mph from 1983 to 1997 driving Thrust2. He was also project director of ThrustSSC, the vehicle which set the current land speed record of 763mph in 1997.

IMIAL Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair students Debra Bligh-Wall, Corey Walton, Will Blackshaw and Cody Brookes meet Richard Noble in Reaseheath’s automotive workshops

IMIAL Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair students Debra Bligh-Wall, Corey Walton, Will Blackshaw and Cody Brookes meet Richard Noble in Reaseheath’s automotive workshops

Cody Brookes, 17, an IMIAL Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair student said: “Listening to Richard was amazing and so inspiring. When we hear that Bloodhound has exceeded 1,000 mph we’ll remember this day as the time we met him at Reaseheath.”

Richard’s audience also included representatives from the Blue Bell Group, Car Transplants, Smiths Autoparts, Auto-mobile, Swansway Garages and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, all of whom support the motor vehicle department.

  • A replica of BloodhoundSSC, along with its education team, will be one of the leading attractions at the Reaseheath Family Festival on Sunday May 18.

 

The car will remain at the college for the following week, when it will be visited by 120 pupils from local schools each day. On Saturday 24th May the car will feature in the launch of the Cheshire Science Festival, which runs until June 1st and aims to encourage more pupils into science, technology, engineering and maths.

 

Grass track racer in pole position

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Reaseheath College motor vehicle  student Aidan Arrowsmith certainly hasn’t been allowing the grass to grow under his wheels.

The 17 year-old is one of the UK’s most  promising young grass track racers and he’s just finished a successful year in sixth position in the British Autograss series. He was also third in the North of England championships.

Aidan, who lives in Wem and attended the town’s Thomas Adams School , has been racing autograss cars in the Junior Special class since he was 12 years old. He’s now looking forward to handing over his race car to his 13 year-old brother, Jordan, and is moving on to his first season in Class 1 racing a Mini Cooper.

Thanks to the support of his parents Alan and Katrina, both boys compete at UK wide meetings every weekend during the March to November season.

Aidan’s also been first off the grid in choosing Reaseheath College in Nantwich for his future career. Reaseheath’s motor vehicle department has just undergone a substantial refurbishment and offers top of the range automotive workshops, kitted out with cutting edge diagnostic equipment.

Next generation motor vehicle technicians learn their skills on a wide range of modern road cars including performance and off road vehicles. They also gain highly relevant work experience at local garages and during workshop sessions at college when they deal with real life scenarios.

Aidan is an IMIAL Level 2 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles student. He is planning to progress to Level 3 and eventually wants to build race cars, possibly eventually joining an F1 team.

As part of his course Aidan has enjoyed study trips to RAF Cosford, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, Deeside Karting circuit and the World Rally Championships. He’s now looking forward to his next  trip to the Autosport show at the NEC in January.

He says: “We looked round local colleges and decided that Reaseheath was definitely the best place to study. The workshops are very modern and the staff have all worked in the industry so they really know what they’re talking about. The classroom sessions are good too, because you learn how things work before you go into the workshops.

“But the best thing is that the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. We work hard but we all have a good laugh too.”

 

Reaseheath Vehicle Technology reaches into the future

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Reaseheath College at the Forefront of Hybrid Technology

Our Motor Vehicle Technology team have taken steps into the future of motor vehicle training with the purchase of a Toyota Prius Hybrid. The car has come from Toyota RRG Stockport and will support our learning programme for level 2 and 3 Vehicle Technology students.

Motor Vehicle PriusThe purchase of such an advanced car gives us an exciting opportunity to take forward out vision – to provide vehicle technology training of the highest technical level in Cheshire and North West of England and to become a centre of excellence in the region and the centre of choice for current and prospective motor vehicle students.

We will become the only FE College in the area able to offer students a combination of Hybrid Vehicle, Oscilloscope training, electronic fault diagnosis, digital 4 wheel alignment and F-Gas (Air Conditioning) certification that will support their main programme of learning and Functional Skills. Our learners will gain more from training here at Reaseheath than the local competitors. Together with our brand new practical workshops, links with motorsport, and action packed study trips to science and industry venues and motorsport events, we offer a programme of learning that is very attractive to learners.

Motor Vehicle at reaseheathFuture course development work will include delivering training to mature learners at Level 4 (Master Technician). We’re also hoping to increase our income generation by providing training in F Gas Certification, Advanced Diagnostics and Hybrid technology to local and national repair establishments.

Sales of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles have increased significantly over the past three years. The purchase rate of these vehicles continues to gather pace year on year. Renault, Nissan and BMW have entered the full electric vehicle market with vehicles capable of more than 100 miles driving range on one charge at the cost of approximately £1. Tesla offers a vehicle that can drive from London to Paris and back again on one charge. Charging times for these vehicles have dramatically reduced as charging technology improves. The role out of the national recharging network continues to spread north offering the opportunity to charge your vehicle away from home.  Because of this Reaseheath College must keep pace with industry and purchasing the Hybrid Vehicle has helped us towards meeting our future objectives.

Students gaining experience of this high level technology will be increasingly more employable over those trained by our competitors.

Expect this new vehicle and the new technology and equipment to be making a presence at many of the shows and events that the marketing team attends.  The vehicle will also act as a marketing tool in its own right, as it will be used to replace hire vehicles for assessor and lecturer visits by the Engineering team to industry.

The future is bright and full of technology. Would you want your training from anyone else?

 

Autosport International 2013

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Students from the IMIAL Level 2 & 3 courses have recently returned from their annual study tour to the Autosport International which is held at the NEC, Birmingham.

By Tom Kitchen

Autosport 2012 was an amazing experience! This is a motorsports show which takes place every January at the NEC, which covers a wide range of the Motor Sport industry trade & educational side of the industry. There were four main halls with a range of stalls such as College/University recruitment stands, a Demon Tweeks stall, food stalls, Drag Racers, Rally cars, Go karting, and of course the whole Formula 1 grid from 2012.

IMI Level Students visiting the Bloodhound 1,000 MPH land speed record project

There was also a whole hall dedicated to the engineering industry behind trading stalls. This included high tech CNC lathes and milling machines and the amazing 3D printer where drawings are brought to life as 3 dimensional solid objects, where the moving parts worked as well.

The live action arena at Autosport International was amazing! They had Go Karting for £5 for all guests. If you went you also had the chance to go drifting with a professional driver in a Caterham car for the low price of £10 for about 3-4 minutes.

The live action show was on for about 45 minutes and it was included in the entry cost for the students. When you were inside the show you get to see Super Moto Quad Racing , the FMX Freestyle UK Team, Jap Speed Drift Team, Auto Grass class 8, Autosport best of British cars, Terry Grant, and finally an appearance from the McLaren young drivers team.

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By Jason Hill

The Maxxis stand

When we had finished looking around the show and watching the stunts in the live arena I realised I had learnt a lot about vehicles and how they are modified for Motorsport use. Lots of the stalls had examples of their modified suspension and brake systems as well as some very expensive looking wheels and tyre sets.

The opportunity to discuss HE course with the Universities that offer courses in Motorsport engineering was really exciting.

Many of us will no doubt return next year just to see all the amazing cars and collect all the freebees that all the stands give out, my personal favourite? The signed calendars from the Maxxis Girls…

Best car of the day? It would have to be the amazing Nissan Deltawing, a motorsport revolution in the making?

 

 

Silverstone

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Four very lucky students were given the opportunity to visit the famous Silverstone F1 Motor Racing Circuit this week courtesy of Pistonheads Sunday Service. Pistonheads invite their website members to specialist motor vehicle events on a monthly basis and call them their Sunday Service. Entry is free to the lucky people that sign up. This Sunday 700 people were allowed access to the Ferrari Clienti Programme.

The Ferrari Clienti programme is for multi millionaires who purchase special cars from Ferrari that are not available to the general public, only to their most exclusive customers. Cars such as the F1 world champion Michael Schumacher’s & Kimi Raikkonen’s F1 cars and the 599XX and the Enzo based FXX.

Members of the clienti programme do not take their cars home with them. Ferrari transports them to the most exclusive racetracks in the world for them to use and then take them back to Modena again at the end of the weekend.

Normally the only people allowed access to the event are those people invited by the Ferrari factory or those being wooed by the Ferrari dealers.

The students were treated to a spectacular day of Ferrari events. Including a parade that attempted to amass the largest number of Ferrari’s in one place, a total of 1,087 were paraded along the circuit.  

F1 cars were raced around the circuit at breakneck speeds to a cacophony of high revving noise by the super rich while the students took the opportunity to try on the latest Ferrari’s, including the 458 Italia Spider for size.