NORTHAMPTON College apprentices played a pivotal role in an international skills challenge to build a scale replica of one of Europe’s most iconic buildings.
Will Smith, Akhila Attiganal, Marcus Hawksworth, James Coulston and Tom Lees from Siemens Rail – studying BTEC Level 3 in Electrical Engineering at Northampton College – took part in a project to create their version of the Atomium building in Brussels as part of European Vocational Skills Week.
The group were tasked with putting together a series of elements manufactured by fellow apprentices from across the world, with sections from Siemens bases in France, Germany, Spain, Denmark and Portugal.
The final design will be presented by Siemens executives during a European Vocational Skills Week event in Berlin next month.
Marcus, aged 21, said: “It’s been a brilliant experience and has really tested us. We’ve had to think on our feet and quickly come up with solutions to problems we’ve encountered along the way.
“We’ve learnt a lot about working with other parties and it’s something that will stand us in good stead for the future.”
The 335 foot tall Atomium building is made up of nine interconnected stainless steel clad spheres, forming the shape of a unit cell or an iron crystal magnified 165 million times. It was originally built in 1958 and now doubles as a museum space.
The model was put together at the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR) in Kings Heath, Northampton, with the Northampton College students the final piece in the jigsaw, receiving individual component parts and transforming them into the final model.
Dan Walker, Head of Apprentice Delivery for NTAR and Siemens Rail Systems, said: “This was a project to allow Siemens apprentices from across the world to showcase their skills and learn more about the way the company works as one across departments and borders.
“We have worked with Northampton College for six years now and we have now developed a programme specifically for our learners, with a lecturer embedded in our business to fully understand what we need to help prepare our workforce for the future.
“That relationship is proving hugely beneficial and it’s great to have a pipeline of local talent coming through to help grow our business.”
For more information on apprenticeships or engineering courses available at Northampton College visit www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk