Manchester apprentices build on their experience at UCLan

Three BDP apprentices are following in the footsteps of the practice’s founder, Sir George Grenfell Baines by learning their trade in Preston. Tyla Green, Joe Craig and Rachael Gilbert have started new Building Services Engineering degree courses at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), this week.

The students who worked as apprentice building services engineers in our Manchester studio, will soon study within the brand new Engineering Innovation Centre at UCLan – a building that was engineered by our BSE team. 

Tyla Green was part of the team that engineered the five-storey glazed atria facing a new civic square and installed a state-of-the-art ventilation system. We also designed and fit-out the new ‘building services living laboratory’, which showcases renewable technologies such as fuel cells, photovoltaic panels and heat pumps.

Speaking about the new course, Tyla said: “I am really excited about the course at UCLan. I have worked at BDP since I was 17 and have been directly involved in a lot of projects, including the EIC and the Student Centre, so it’s quite funny that I am now able to continue my education there. Once we are able to go back on campus, I can’t wait to see the buildings in operation and to be a part of a new cohort of very eager engineering students.”

Along with Tyla, Joe and Rachael also worked to provide innovative and sustainable building services solutions for UCLan’s new student centre, which is still under construction.

Rob Ferry, Principal, Building Services Engineering, said: “Rachael, Joe and Tyla can be proud of taking this next step in their careers. The very fact that they will eventually be learning about innovative building services technology and techniques on a campus they helped engineer has to be the ultimate example of gaining experience while you study. We are delighted that we can give them the opportunity to continue to work towards their degrees and become more confident engineers.

I gained my qualifications in building services engineering at UCLan and I can’t recommend it enough. The connection between BDP, the city of Preston and UCLan is clear and we continue to build a symbiotic relationship with the university to develop and train the best future engineers for the industry, from this innovative base in Preston.

We wish Joe, Rachael and Tyla the very best of luck.”

Michael Ahern, UCLan’s Chief Information and Infrastructure Officer, added:

“We welcome Joe, Rachael and Tyla to UCLan and wish them the very best of luck in their studies; I am sure they will thrive with us. Our Engineering Innovation Centre is already helping us to strengthen our reputation for applied knowledge exchange; bringing business research, entrepreneurship, innovation and academic excellence to life.

Crucially, the facility is also enabling our students to work on live projects, enhancing their overall experience and developing into sought-after graduates. I’m sure BDP will benefit from the educational investment in Joe, Rachael and Tyla for many years to come.”

A key part of the university’s £200 million masterplan, the £35 million, 7000sqm Engineering Innovation Centre was built to produce up to 500 locally-trained graduates each year in areas including aerospace, mechanical and energy technologies and engineering.

The building is equipped to the highest standard with technology demonstration and specialist work areas which help create integrated spaces for teaching, research and knowledge exchange. The building hosts specialist training equipment such as flight simulators, automotive research and manufacturing, and specialist electronic labs.