Abstract
Hartlepool College has recently introduced a Higher National Certificate (HNC) course in Instrumentation and Control, recognising the national shortage of qualified engineers and technicians in this key discipline.
The first recipient of an award given by the Teesside Section to the best performing final-year student is David Reay.
David, pictured after receiving his award from David Otterson, is employed as an Instrument and Control Technician Apprentice by EDF Energy at the local Nuclear Power Station. He has achieved the highest possible grade profile, with distinction grades in all modules awarded this year. During the final year of the course, he completed a project that could be used at the power station. This involved the design and build of a rig to test, calibrate and run a carbon dioxide analyser used at Hartlepool power station as a pressure parts incipient failure detection device. The rig also allowed analysers to be checked and set up before they are used on plant. He received excellent feedback on the project presentation day from students, staff and employers.
David intends to continue his studies after a gap year and has expressed a desire to progress to a master’s degree qualification. We wish him well in his endeavours.