Meet our employer partner, Andy Davies from Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs. They connect, power and protect society.
Rolls-Royce comprises three focused businesses – Civil Aerospace, Defence and Power Systems.
Throughout their history, they have set out to achieve extraordinary goals. Along the way, they have developed ground-breaking technologies, established new standards and shaped the world we live in. This quest has taken them from their founding expertise in internal combustion engines to providing the world’s most powerful and efficient aero-engines.
As a leading industrial technology company, Rolls-Royce want to play a part in creating solutions to society’s greatest technological challenge, by delivering cleaner, more sustainable power.
The company has 55,000 employees worldwide of which 26,000 are in the UK and 15,700 are in Derby.
Andy Davies, Learning Delivery Manager at Rolls-Royce, works with the UTC to ensure students can develop key industry, skills, knowledge and behaviours. Andy is supported by the Educational Outreach Team at Rolls-Royce.
He says: “For me, the employer projects are the unique selling point of the UTC. They bring the curriculum to life for the students, and you see the students starting to use what they’ve learnt in an industry context.
“The students develop numerous skills. There’s a practical element which is missing in most mainstream schools, and soft skills which can range from teamwork and time management to working with customers and building relationships, like you would in a workplace. We visit the students with guest speakers and support teachers with their CPD, projects and in lessons.
“Studying in an environment that will prepare you for the world of work and getting involved with extra-curricular activities enhances the students’ employability skills. As an employer, we’re looking for enthusiastic, switched-on people who can think independently and work in a team. It’s great to see such early career talent developing within the UTC which is a positive thing for the industry.”