T Level students at Middlesbrough College have earned high praise from one of the region’s largest employers, Northumbrian Water, after successfully completing an industry-led innovation project.
Following their success, one group’s prototype is now set to be tested and rolled out across the company’s workforce.
The exciting collaboration saw Northumbrian Water approach Middlesbrough College with two practical challenges, each aimed at improving a key aspect of the water meter installation process.
Mechanical and Mechatronic students were tasked with an innovation project to redesign the company’s existing meter key, and a second challenge to help replicate an existing stop tap key used by technicians in the field.
The project has been integrated into the College’s T Level programme, which sees students spend 80% of their time learning skills in the classroom and the remaining 20% in an industry placement, where they get to work with local employers and put their skills into action.
The project has presented students with an excellent opportunity to apply their skills to a current industry challenge, designing unique prototypes that offer real-world solutions to a real-world problem.
On Tuesday, 8th April, students presented their final ideas and 3D printed prototypes to Northumbrian Water’s Meter team representatives, receiving outstanding feedback for their brilliant ideas, presentation skills, and collaboration.
The winning design, created by students Sophia Jeffels, Luke Barker, and Alfie Parker, has been praised for being lightweight without compromising on strength or durability, and is now set to be tested, manufactured, and rolled out across the company’s field.
Emma Taylor, Customer Services Manager for Meter Field Services at Northumbrian Water, said: “Working with Middlesbrough College on solving a real-world problem for our teams has been a great experience.
“The Mechanical Engineering Students have taken a keen interest in helping us to develop a lighter, more agile meter key.
“The success of the project means our field technicians can do their jobs more efficiently and remove meters with increased ease, ensuring our customers also receive a great experience!
“All the students really understood the brief and were able to produce designs that could be taken out and tested in the field.
“It’s clear that students from the College have a great deal of talent and very bright futures ahead of them. We’re pleased to continue our already strong relationship through apprentice training into the future.”
Students Sophia Jeffels, Luke Barker, and Alfie Parker, part of the winning project group, all shared how valuable the experience has been.
Sophia, who aspires to work in the Renewable Energy sector when she completes her education, said: “The project has been incredibly helpful. It’s gave me great hands-on experience.
“It’s really helped me to see and understand what real industry problems are and given me the confidence and experience needed to solve them.”
Luke said: “The chance to be part of this project and work on a real-world problem is invaluable.”
Alfie said: “Working on a brief for a company like Northumbrian Water is inspiring, it’s really driven me. Being able to see our design come to life and manufactured is a huge bonus!”
To find out more about T Levels at Middlesbrough College, click here.
