If you are interested in a career in engineering, then why not come and study at The North Highland College's new ETEC facility based in Thurso?
ETEC - The North Highland College's Engineering, Technology, and Energy Centre is based in Thurso on the North Coast of Highland Scotland. This new centre enables The college to deliver engineering programmes and modern apprenticeships in partnership with employers in a modern and practical setting with excellent industrial facilities. As a partner college within the University Of The Highlands And Islands, we deliver higher education engineering programmes up to BEng (Hons) level and research opportunities.
This hub of engineering excellence provides an opportunity for younger people to acquire a broad range of skills which industry will require both now and in the future, in order to enable them to live and work locally. The centre offers approximately 3600m2 of purpose built engineering facilities, superbly equipped to provide training for engineering and renewable energy sectors. As a Scottish training provider for NSAN (National Skills Academy for Nuclear), The North Highland College also takes an active role in the creation, development, and promotion of world class skills and career pathways to support a sustainable future for the nuclear industry.
The Engineering Sponsorship Programme
The North Highland College won first prize in the partnership category of Scotland's Colleges Annual Awards for its close links with industry. These links were established through the Engineering Sponsorship Programme, run in conjunction with Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL).
The programme encourages individuals to apply for full time study in HNC/HND Engineering Systems, BEng Mechanical/Electrical, or Electronic Engineering at the college, which is further supplemented by relevant work experience undertaken at the Dounreay site. After a one year full time course of advanced study at the college, graduates may be employed by DSRL in a relevant role or continue to be sponsored to further their studies at college.
New facilities
The design of the centre has been a collaborative approach between The North Highland College, DSRL, Highlands And Islands Enterprise, and various Caithness engineering companies.
- The centre ensures there are sufficient skills available to allow engineering companies to support other market sectors such as oil, gas, and renewables.
- The centre assists in reskilling and modernises engineering training.
- The centre encourages businesses in the sector to relocate to Caithness.
As well as accommodating classrooms and offices, the centre creates workplace surroundings capable of teaching mechanical, control, instrumentation, electrical, welding, and fabrication.
Two large workshops are divided into dedicated training zones
Engineering Skills Workshop
- Mechanical Zone – including a materials testing laboratory. Hand skills area, machining area, and mechanical maintenance.
- Rig Zone – Industrial scale electrical, mechanical, control, and instrumentation rigs provide a realistic working environment in which to practice plant commissioning, maintenance, and isolation dismantling.
- Electrical Zone - Workshops contain and inspection and testing area, a motor room containing pods with racks and work benches, an electrical installation area, and an area dedicated to electrical maintenance.
Fabrication And Welding Workshop
- Welding Zone - contain equipment to carry out a wide range of welding and fabrication processes. This includes twenty four self contained welding booths, and multiprocess welding plant for MMA, MIG and TIG.
- Fabrication Zone – Light and heavy fabrication areas for sheet metal and plate work, and a five tonne overhead crane.
Education And Technology Block
The Education Zone, has 450m2 of teaching space equipped with modern video conferencing and multimedia teaching aids. Each teaching room is equipped with computer workstations to provide students with access to a full range of industry standard engineering software applications.
On the ground floor, the large atrium area can be used for conferences, exhibitions, and meetings, etc. This area also contains recreational areas, work spaces, and changing rooms.