Michell Instruments hopes to encouragte more students to consider engineer through support for Ely College

Cambridge Area Partnership (CAP) has recruited another Employer Champion to work in partnership with a local state secondary school. Michell Instruments has pledged to support Ely College. The partnership was announced during the Ely Careers Fair when Ely College with CAP and East Cambridgeshire District Council welcomed over 50 businesses to The Maltings. Michell Instruments, which is based in the Lancaster Way Business Park, was eager to support students as they start to think about future careers. ‘Michell Instruments invests in staff development and training. We have always taken on apprentices to train in various parts of the business, and most of these stay with us for many years of their career after qualifying. Working more closely with schools to help generate interest in the STEM subjects is a logical step,” said Mike Bannister, CEO of Michell Instruments. ‘Because we research, design and manufacture most of our products in the UK, it’s important to have a strong pool of talented engineers. Working to inspire an interest in science at an early age might help to encourage more children to consider engineering as a career, which would be good for the UK as a whole.’ Richard Baker, Vice Principal of Ely College Community College, said: “Partnerships with businesses are extremely important to our school. We want to encourage our students to look forward and to consider where their education can take them. Working with employers gives our students and our staff the chance to learn about the opportunities out there for them.” Michell Instruments recently hosted a visit from senior staff at Ely College to their site on Lancaster Way to tour the factory and explore ways of working together. Plans range from ideas for year 7 students right through to opportunities for students on vocational courses in the sixth-form. Last summer, Michell Instruments ran a very successful science competition for younger students on the theme of water. Duncan Allen from Michell is member of the steering group guiding CAP’s Employer Links project and the company has supported many school events, including a recent initiative to promote apprenticeships at school’s post 16 evenings.

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