Project Description
Leviton broaden support for Fife’s young people
In late 2022, Leviton Network Solutions reached out to DYW Fife to discuss ways we could work together and provide additional workplace support for young people in Fife.
The partnership was formed as part of Leviton’s 50th Anniversary and was led by HR Manager Sarah Williamson, Senior Director of Operations Mike Curnyn and Production Manager Paul Richardson who were eager to build a relationship with a local high school and give back to their community.
After a series of meetings between Leviton and the DYW coordinator at Auchmuty High School, a range of programmes were developed to support pupils at different stages of their education, to improve their workplace skills and learn more about day-to-day life of an apprentice and graduate engineer.
Apprentices and Engineering graduates from Leviton joined pupils from S3 to S6 and provided insight into what Leviton do as a company and how their current role links back to the skills and knowledge they learned in the Engineering Science course. The pupils were also able to discuss pathways into different Engineering careers and heard more about the apprentice and graduates experience has shaped their journey.
Engineering Science students from S5 and S6 visited the Leviton site in Glenrothes to learn more about the manufacturing process of Leviton’s products. The visit started with a factory tour to share details about the manufacturing process of copper and fiber optic data network cables then each pupil took part in material tensile testing and burn testing of different materials. This activity showed the pupils the testing and standards processes that the wider company adhere to.
The group were tested at the end of the day to see what they had learned throughout their experience and a prize of some wireless headphones was awarded to the winner.
The aim of this experience is to provide our young people with knowledge and skills of the practical application of material testing from the Engineering Science course and how these relate to the world of work.
Leviton is also accommodating six work experience opportunities for several S4, S5 and S6 pupils which focused on Math’s, English, Engineering, Physics, Languages and Business/Computing. These sessions will be held three times throughout the academic year and aim to help the young people gain experience in an industry they take an active interest in. The work experience will also look to improve their confidence while developing their job application and interview skills.
The pupils also helped out with Leviton’s ‘Garage Project’ which involved the manufacture of a container and fitting it with equipment and tools. The aim of the project was to provide our young people involved in the green powered car project a space to design and build the car and have access to the necessary equipment. This gave them a learning space to underpin the practical elements of what they are learning, with the theoretical elements intertwined in their learning.
Pupils who attended on the day said:
“Having the apprentices and graduates come into school to talk about their various journey’s into engineering, has helped me see that there are more pathways into a career other than going to University. I am now considering a graduate apprenticeship”
“Visiting Leviton was a great experience to be able to do the practical material testing of the theory we learned in school”.