CATCH Skills ran their first Introduction to Industry skills course of the year last week.

Phillips 66 sponsored the first course this year and gave a 4-day insight to industry providing invaluable work experience. The students spent two days with our CATCH Skills trainers covering simulator training, process plant familiarisation within the National Centre for Process Manufacturing and activities within the mechanical workshop. This was followed by 2-days at Phillips 66 completing an induction within the ‘Cave’, team building activities and completed a tour around site.

Thank you Phillips for sponsoring such a valuable work experience for the future of our industry.

From Theory to Practice: Leeds University students complete the ‘CATCH Experience’

On 20^th March 2023 CATCH Skills hosted over 100 University of Leeds Chemical Engineering students over 3 days to take part in the ‘CATCH Experience’ programme.

The students are in their 2^nd year of their degree programme, benefited from invaluable practical hands-on experience. Which demonstrated how their skills would be used in the workplace in a few years’ time. The training included, familiarisation with the process plant, simulator, control room and mechanical workshop.

Practical “real world” experience in a degree programme is very difficult to achieve yet is valued as extremely important by employers. The CATCH Experience Programme allows students to apply and transfer their Chemical Engineering theoretical studies into practical scenarios, within a safe and controlled environment.

Students who attended the programme said, “it was great to get some hands-on experience with process control and plant operations, seeing everything in person gives new context.” They continued to say “gave us a real world experience”. More specifically we asked how they felt the activities fit with their degree course, they responded “Process control, P&IDs and TSC simulator.”

Mark Booth, Head of Training said: “The program we put together with the University of Leeds is a unique opportunity for their students to gain invaluable experience through a packed program of events, ranging from the operation of our National Centre for Process Manufacturing to computer-based simulation and mechanical pumps and flanges.  The aim is to allow the students to recall the theory they have covered in class and transfer that into practical hands-on experience. The students relished the opportunity, and their enthusiasm was clear for all to see, with many commenting that they wanted to come back the next day, and how the practical had shown them how the theory is transferred into industry. The trainers all commented that though exhausting just how much they enjoyed passing on their knowledge to the students and seeing them make the connections.

Dr Eric Danso- Boateng from University of Leeds, said: “The CATCH visit programme is essential to the Year 2 Chemical Engineering programme.  The visit activities help them to achieve one of the learning objectives, which is to articulate the knowledge acquired on the operation of process from an industrial site visit. It helps the students to recall a lot of the content learnt in lectures.

Student feedback regarding the CATCH visit programme is very positive as they really enjoy the activities. The students found the programme to be very interesting and informative, allowing for insight on possible industry operations and practices”.

Based in Stallingborough, CATCH is an industry led partnership supporting the process, energy, engineering and renewable industries in Yorkshire and Humber. Catering for adult and student learning. If you would like to find out more details, please call 01469 552828 or email info@catchuk.org.

CATCH Skills have recently delivered a bespoke Confined Space Emergency Response course for Prax!

The main focus was to create real life scenarios of a rescue using a live casualty. This was to practise initiating a rescue, the responsibilities of a team leader/ member and ensuring clear communication.

We included additional elements of first aid including, emergency resuscitation, casualty handling and oxygen administration.

Lee Christie, Refinery Fire and Safety Leader said “The Confined Space Emergency Rescue Training was really good, the scenarios were realistic and it was really beneficial have live casualty rescues, the facility provided us with the challenges we needed to test our skills and experience.”

Holly Goodwin, CATCH Skills Account Manager added “It has been great supporting Prax with their Confined Space Emergency Rescue Training package. Tailoring the course to meet their site requirements ensures the delegates have a greater understanding and relatable experience within the scenarios. Utilising our purpose built Confined Space Rig for training means we can create real life scenarios, without the real industry risks. This provides individuals with the opportunity to practice and build confidence within a contained environment, should they ever need to perform these for real. In addition to the practical elements, we implemented exactly the same procedures they would follow at their site, ensuring our trainers can support the individuals every step of the way.”

For more information on the bespoke courses CATCH Skills can offer, please contact the team on 01469 552852 or email info@catchuk.org

CATCH Skills are ECITB accredited to deliver MJI10, MJI18 and MJI19.

The courses can be taught individually or as a full package here at CATCH or on your site.

Delegates will gain the skills required to dismantle, inspect, prepare, assemble and tighten flanged and clamp connector pipe joints and bolted connections using:

• Hand Torque Bolted Connection Techniques (MJI10)
• Hydraulic Torque Bolted Connection Equipment and
  Techniques (MJI19)
• Hydraulic Tensioning Connection and Equipment Techniques
  (MJI18)

For course dates and costs please contact the team on 01469 552852 or email info@catchuk.org

Happy International Dog Day!

We celebrated by having a bring your dog to work day and they took part in several competitions to win medals!

The winners are..

Most like its owner:

1st Place – Buster (Keith Eddom)

2nd Place- Arnold (James McIntosh)

3rd Place – Molly (Paul Snowden)

Cutest:

1st Place – Blue (Yasmin Smith)

2nd Place- Pippa (Paul Raithby)

3rd Place- Bertie (Jess Bocock)

Naughtiest:

1st Place- Malcolm (Eve McIntosh)

2nd Place- Arnold (James McIntosh)

3rd Place- Ernie (Libbi Dimbleby)

Waggiest Tale:

1st Place – Abbie (Katie Hedges)

2nd Place- Oscar (Lesley Pickard)

3rd Place- Bella (Paul Raithby)

Well- Behaved:

1st Place- Dolly (Leah Lewis)

2nd Place- Ronnie (Leah Lewis)

3rd Place – Alfie (Jasmine Greenhalgh)

Best Tricks:

1st Place- Teddy (Jess Bocock)

2nd Place- Norris (Daisy Seddon)

3rd Place- Abbie (Katie Hedges)

CATCH Skills ran a bespoke 1- Day Emergency Response training course for the employees at YARA. Using their procedures, we created a programme to incorporate important roles the employees may face within their jobs.

Martin Jones, HESQ Manager and Process Safety Coordinator said, “Fantastic course, very relevant and extremely well planned – the teams were free from site distractions and able to fully concentrate on the tasks in hand – mistakes were made and learning in a safe and open environment meant we can build people up – wonderful course”

The teams took part in several scenarios around the National Centre for Process Manufacturing (NCPM) including a forklift collision which required a first aid exercise to traumatic leg injuries and a leaking diesel tanker with 4000 litres potentially leaking into a local watercourse. We take pride in making all our scenarios realistic and create the industrial environment. We brought in a real-life volunteer to play the casualty and it was that realistic the fire brigade heard the screams and checked to see if we needed any assistance.

Holly Goodwin, CATCH Skills Account Manager added,

“CATCH Skills provide their customers with the opportunity to tailor our courses to meet their individual company requirements and standards.  This involves our Commercial Team arranging a scope meeting with the customer, to understand their requirements in further detail.

No course is the same, just like no business works in the same way. This is what makes the bespoke option crucial to ensure each customer is satisfied with the training.  The team have tailored courses to replicate scenarios that may appear on customers sites, they have implemented familiar documentation such as permit to works, risk assessments and procedures for the delegates attending, and they have used real equipment donated from the customers within the demonstrations and practical elements.

The feedback we have received from both companies and trainers, is that the delegates are much more engaged and feel confident applying what they have learnt to their individual job roles.”

For more information on these programmes or to find out how we can assist you and your training needs, contact Holly on 01469 552841 or email info@catchuk.org

CATCH is thrilled to kick off the first Introduction to Industry skills training course of the year with 13 keen learners from Humberston Academy.

Greenergy have sponsored three of the young learner’s industry programmes this year. The first one was exclusive to Humberston Academy. Blain Wilkinson, Design and Technology teacher said

“The introduction to industry course provided by CATCH has been invaluable in helping our learners make informed choices about their career paths post 16. The course gives them valuable insight into what to expect from an apprenticeship and a career in industry. It helps our learners to understand that there is an entire world of opportunities waiting for them after they leave school and gives them real world experience of the type of industry that is available on their doorstep. The introduction to industry course also provides our learners with a chance to really stand out during the application and interview process for apprenticeships and colleges.

From a personal point of view I feel incredibly lucky to be able to work so closely with an industry leading training provider like CATCH. It has enabled me to help my students make more informed decisions when it comes to their career path post-16. I have always been incredibly passionate about offering learners as many opportunities as possible and working with CATCH and Greenergy has really enabled me to open up a whole host of opportunities that otherwise they wouldn’t have had chance to access. It Is refreshing and encouraging that companies like CATCH and Greenergy are reaching back into schools to really make the effort to bridge the gap between education and industry. I look forward to being able to continue working closely with CATCH and Greenergy to provide more opportunities to learners in the future.”

The experience takes place at the National Centre for Process and Manufacturing (NCPM) where students took part in practical elements such as solving scenarios and assembling pumps using Mechanical Joint Integrity processes. The sessions were led by CATCH Skills expert industrial trainers to give a realistic insight into future careers.

Our August date is fully booked however, we have 10 places left on our 26^th-27^th October programme. To book a place contact Jess on jess.bocock@catchuk.org