South West Durham Training is an Engineering & Plumbing Training Centre based within the Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe. SWDT has supported students with progressing into careers within the multi-faced field of Engineering & Plumbing since its opening in 1967, as well as supporting employers to grow and upskill their workforce through apprenticeships and commercial training.
SWDT has seen significant growth since the start of the 2024 Academic Year, with 100% growth in Full-Time enrolments and a 30% increase in Apprentices. This growth comes from various factors.
SWDT works in collaboration with a large number of Engineering Companies across the region, including key players such as GSK, Ineos, BTS Facades & Fabrications, to name a few. This ensures progression opportunities for both students and employees whether that be with apprenticeships or commercial training. In Engineering there are a wide variety of Engineering Apprenticeship Standards, which can be complex. SWDT offer a tailored approach to apprenticeships to ensure students are learning content relevant to the business they are working for.
In recent months, SWDT has invested in some of the latest technologies used in industry today, based on employer recommendations, including a CNC Press Brake, CNC Plasma Cutter, Smart Factories, Wire Eroder and a FARO Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). This equipment allows learners to continue to gain industry standard knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
An increase in community engagement has led to further collaborations with local primary and secondary schools to ensure a talent pipeline of Engineers and Plumbers. Funding issued by the Local Skills Improvement Fund led to SWDT leading the way in sourcing fun and engaging STEM related activities for young children across the region including a children’s book and a life-size mascot.
SWDT are also involved with the Aspire project. This entails local secondary school aged children being hosted by numerous companies across the Aycliffe Business Park. This allows them to gain insight into a variety of fields. SWDT provide students with a tour of our facility as well as information, advice and guidance on the courses relevant to careers in Engineering & Plumbing.
This growth period has led to the onboarding of three new staff members, including Jay Bell (Site Services & Facilities), Leah Scott (Trainee Lecturer) and Sarah Merryweather (Senior Business Development Advisor).
Photo: Executive Director, Jonathan Hall (pictured with the new employees) welcomes them to the SWDT Team and wishes them every success in their new roles.