Meet Fynn Walker, a proud Middlesbrough College alumnus who’s transformed his passion for engineering into a rewarding, hands-on career
Fynn started his journey at Middlesbrough College on the Electrical Engineering T Level course, a programme which sees students spend 80% of their time learning skills in the classroom and the remaining 20% completing an industry placement, where they work with local employers and put their skills into action.
Fast-forward to today, Fynn has secured a full-time job with HC Controls LTD as an electrical wireman, and he credits Middlesbrough College Group for giving him the skills, confidence, and support to get there.
“I was instantly impressed with the engineering department, especially compared to other colleges I looked at. It’s a huge facility. The TTE building is fantastic.
“The amount of space and access to real equipment dedicated to physical, hands-on learning made it stand out straight away. It’s not something I’d ever really seen before at other colleges.”
During his T Level, Fynn completed his industry placement HC Controls LTD, which designs and manufactures control panels.
“I really enjoyed it and knew that I wanted to keep going.”
The team at HC Controls were so impressed with Fynn’s performance that he was taken on as an apprentice with Middlesbrough College Group’s Northern Skills training arm.
During this time, he also completed an HNC in Mechanical Engineering at University Centre Middlesbrough, the College’s Higher Education facility.
“The teaching at both Middlesbrough College and University Centre Middlesbrough is brilliant.
“The tutors are really helpful and professional. I could call or message them any time if I was stuck. Dan Still was especially helpful. He really supported me through the course and into a hands-on career.”
In his current role as an electrical wireman, no two days are the same.
“Everything we build is custom. We manufacture and wire different control panels for clients locally and across the country, fabricate back plates, and sometimes go on-site to fit or maintain systems. It’s really creative and varied. It’s also very customer-facing, which I love.
“One of the most valuable things I learnt at Middlesbrough College is communication. I’ve learned how to communicate with customers a lot better and explain technical things clearly.
“My course taught me everything, from understanding wiring diagrams to fault finding, and how different components work. Having that understanding has really helped me in my new job role.
“At University Centre Middlesbrough, we had really small class sizes, which meant we got more one-to-one support. I also liked having our own space to learn in. It felt professional and has helped me step into a hands-on role.
When asked if he would recommend the College to others, Fynn said:
“Absolutely. The tutors at the College are amazing, especially the tutors at University Centre Middlesbrough. They’re some of the most down-to-earth, supportive people you’ll ever meet. They go above and beyond to help you.
“I’m really glad I chose to study here; it gave me everything I needed to move forward!”