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Leyland Trucks offers ‘real work’ for Preston’s College students

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  • UK’s leading truck manufacturer to equip students with work-place skills
  • £13 million investment in new STEM Centre
  • Leyland Trucks to assist across range of subjects
  • “Investing in young people at the start of their careers often means an opportunity to harness the very best talent in years to come,” Ivan Shearer, HR Director, Leyland Trucks.

In a move to support a major education initiative and to stimulate career-interest in the automotive industry, Leyland Trucks is lending considerable resources to the new £13 million Innovation and STEM (iSTEM) Centre at Preston’s College in Fulwood, Preston which opens for business this September. In so doing, Leyland Trucks forms a unique partnership with Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Lancashire County Council and the Chamber of Commerce.

By providing a ‘Real Work Environment’ (RWE) in partnership with Preston’s College, the Leyland-based truck manufacturer aims to equip students with the essential skills to transition seamlessly from education into the work-place. Leyland Trucks’ investment into the venture includes donating engines and componentry, supplying technical expertise – both in the lecture room and on-site courses at its factory – plus the invaluable experience of ‘real world’ employment scenarios.

Specifically, Leyland Trucks is sponsoring the Electrical & Electronics area of the new Centre to recreate a working environment using company procedures and values, health and safety protocols and departmental engineering practices. Detailed projects are already being assigned to the iSTEM Centre with Leyland Trucks work-wear and personal protective equipment being supplied to enable students to experience the look and feel of a Leyland Trucks employee.

Further, as part of the commitment at Preston’s College to ensure that all of its learners benefit from the principals of STEM learning, Leyland Trucks has also offered to design a tailored project to help media students develop their new-business and project management skills.

HR Director at Leyland Trucks, Ivan Shearer, believes that by investing in Preston’s College now, the Lancashire truck maker stands to gain from long-term benefits, “Investing in young people at the start of their careers often means an opportunity to harness the very best talent in years to come,” he said, “The iSTEM Centre really does provide a centre of excellence for engineering skills in the north west , and we want to fully engage with the curriculum to support learners and boost skills in UK industry.

Chris Wood, Vice-Principal, Excellence & Learning at Preston’s College, said “The inception of the iSTEM Centre will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the college, on our staff, our employer partners such as Leyland Trucks and, above all, our learners. The new facility will act as a catalyst for change in the practice of equipping our learners with the skills and attributes required by employers. The support provided by Leyland Trucks is critical to ensuring that the iSTEM Centre provides the workforce of tomorrow with a Real Work Environment in which they can develop their skills.”

Leyland Trucks joins a number of other local businesses in providing an RWE outlet for Preston’s College.

For further details please contact:

Paul O’Malley, Torque Agency Group                                      
020 7952 1070
pomalley@torqueagencygroup.com

Adam Sharples, Preston’s College
01772 225024.

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