Steel Benders UK forges future engineering local talent through T-Level scholarships
Steel Benders UK (SBUK) is playing an important role in developing the next generation of Teesside engineers by welcoming three talented scholars from Middlesbrough College into the heart of its industrial operations.
Through the College’s strategic T-Level Scholarship Programme, the company is providing the essential practical experience required for young people to transition from the classroom to the frontlines of the engineering sector.
Based in Middlesbrough, Steel Benders UK is a specialist in heavy-duty metal manipulation, offering high-precision services such as plate rolling, section bending and press braking.
The facilities on Teesside are also home to advanced high-definition plasma and laser cutting technology, making it a comprehensive one-stop shop for steel profiling.
By integrating students into this high-tech environment, SBUK is ensuring that local talent is equipped with the skills needed to support the region’s industrial future.
The three students currently on-site are in their final year of study.
Deaton Sargeant and Ben Prest are both undertaking the T-Level in maintenance, installation and repair with a specialism in instrumentation and control. Maxim Czupun is focusing on mechanical engineering through his design and development for engineering course.
All three are on their way to complete 315 hours of industry placement as a mandatory requirement to pass their Level 3 qualifications.
Deaton, 18, said: “I love it. I have learned how to work different machines and the different types of steel used. It was a last-minute choice to swap to this course, but I have found it and I love it.
“I would like to get a job related to it. The first year of T-Level was all theory and it has built up to the practical in the second year, which comes with the scholarships. My dad worked on oil rigs and different things in engineering, so it’s great to follow that path.”
His classmate, 18-year-old Ben, echoed the importance of getting away from the textbooks.
He said: “It is great. I have learned how to operate all different kinds of machinery and follow work orders.
“I have seen the outcomes as I’ve rolled basic components for wider projects. My brother is an engineer and my dad was a tradesman, so I have always been quite handy. After a year of theory, we have been excited to get amongst the practical.”
For Maxim, 17, the placement has provided an insight into technical steel profiling and he has been pencilled in to have some time to work on CAD design.
He said: “I have really enjoyed it. I have done quite a lot of things that I wouldn’t have done otherwise. I have had experience of working that I have not had before, learning how to operate the machinery.
“I have done a lot of work on the plasma, and I have written down things that I need to do in my notebook, and I am just about ready to run a full job.
“I have really enjoyed the practical because it is gearing us up to having to build a prototype for our course, review and critique it.”
The partnership between industry and education is seen as a vital solution to the regional skills gap.
Phil Anderson, Operations Director at Steel Benders, views the scholarship as a way to ‘pay it forward’ to the Teesside community while securing the company’s own talent pipeline.
“We are helping to shape the future of the business and it is something I’d have loved to have done myself as a teenager,” Phil said.
“This is an opportunity to give something back by giving these learners much-needed experience to evolve in working life.
“People can emerge from school unaware of what working life is like and these programmes are the perfect opportunity to get a little bit of experience.”
Niamh Swaddle, Middlesbrough College’s Engineering Scholarship Programme Co-ordinator, emphasised the value of Steel Benders’ involvement.
She said: “Steel Benders is making a significant contribution to the industry by giving three young people the chance to gain valuable, hands-on experience directly on site.
“While many companies expect practical skills, Phil and the team at SBUK are actively helping these scholars build them – strengthening their confidence, capability and CVs.
“We’re extremely grateful for the opportunities they’ve provided. The aim is to connect employers with future engineers to mentor and support them, and Steel Benders is a standout example of how industry can positively shape young talent.”
*To learn more about Steel Benders UK and their full range of services, visit steelbenders.co.uk