NEWS & EVENTS SOLVING SANITATION PROBLEMS
RENISHAW
Renishaw apprentices secure second place in Engineering without Borders awards
Five degree apprentices from Gloucestershire-based global engineering company , Renishaw , have been awarded second place for their entry in the UK ’ s Engineering without Borders competition . As part of the Engineering for People Design Challenge the apprentices were challenged to create an engineering brief based on real-world problems that would improve the lives of the people living in two towns in northern Peru .
The Renishaw engineers , who are studying for their degrees at the University of the West of England , Bristol , developed a solution for Lobitos and Piedritas , two towns that experience serious sanitation problems . The apprentices ’ solution consisted of a combination of biodigesters and oxidation ponds , that plumbs sewage through the system , creating a sanitary sewage system and turns waste into usable by-products . The system breaks sewage into clear effluent that can be processed and used for drinking water and sludge that can be used for fertiliser , providing a healthier area to live .
The team - Ella Brisland , Marcus Evans , Charlie Lodge , Ezra Price and Oliver Tutton - are currently in year one of a five-year Level 6 apprenticeship at Renishaw , in disciplines such as mechanical engineering , application support and design and development . The team was able to draw on experiences from their previous Level 3 apprenticeships during the challenge , such as confidence presenting their ideas to senior members of the company , working as part of a team to achieve a set objective and problem solving complex issues .
“ The team was shortlisted from a total of 1,339 teams across the UK and Ireland , so being awarded second place is a brilliant representation of all the hard work they ’ ve put into the project , in addition to studying and holding down a job ,” explained Julia Russell , Apprentice Lead at Renishaw . “ The apprentices also competed against 75 teams to represent the University of the West of England , many of which were
Their success has elevated their standing and promoted the amazing work our apprentices are carrying out across the business .
undergraduate teams with more time to devote to the project , so this in itself was a great achievement .”
“ Their success has elevated their standing and promoted the amazing work our apprentices are carrying out across the business ,” continued Russell . “ The team has been invited to give their presentation in a senior management meeting and news of their success was sent to the Board and all worldwide staff , so the whole company is celebrating with them .”
“ Seeing how far our design made it in the competition was a real eye opener to what can be done with a good idea and the drive to make it the best it can be ,” commented Marcus Evans , Design / Development Technician Apprentice at Renishaw . “ The understanding we have gained from this competition will help us apply our socio-economic and environmental knowledge to the future engineering work we carry out in an effective and considerate way .”
This summer , Renishaw opened applications for 60 apprenticeships across its Gloucestershire and South Wales sites , including ; engineering , software and embedded electronic design and development . Other Renishaw apprentices who have received recent recognition for their achievements , include Ryan Harris , who was a finalist in the Tomorrow ’ s Talent category of the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2021 , and Matthew Hunter who won an IMECHE Frederic Barnes Waldron ‘ Best Student ’ award .
To find out more about Renishaw ’ s apprenticeship scheme , visit Renishaw ’ s website www . renishaw . com / en / apprenticeships .
Issue 52 PECM 109