Pilot Drilling Control received The Employer Engagement Award for SME's. The award was presented by Susie Fowler Watt of BBC East on behalf of the East of England Development Agency and Learning Partnership Trust. This is one of the most prestigious awards for excellence in enhancing the vocational opportunities available for students.

PDC was acknowledged for its success in building partnerships with local high schools and colleges. Some of these valuable links are detailed below

Engineering Maths in Schools programme-

A-level maths students form three local high schools were welcomed to PDC and given a detailed insight into the workings of an engineering firm. This exposure to engineering involved a series of workshops outlining some of the mathematical challenges commonly faced within engineering. The students were then asked to complete an extended task to further deepen their understanding of one of these workshops. Design Engineers from PDC visited the local schools to offer support with the mathematical challenges. As a final stage to the programme students then presented their findings to a group of their teachers and peers.
This scheme successfully gave the students involved a wide experience covering many of the skills required in modern day engineering.

Apprentices-

Currently a huge 25% of PDC’s workforce is made up of apprentices. This investment into the training of future engineers clearly shows Pilot Drilling Controls ongoing commitment to maintaining strong links with local high schools and colleges.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Scheme-

This scheme involved working with Year 10 students and offering work placements to gain experience in the key theoretical principals of running a business.

Engineering today requires many high-level technical skills. Companies can play a major role in engaging students and helping to provide these key skills. Pilot Drilling Control understands the need for companies to be involved in this way and recognises that investments need to be made to provide the industry with the high-level employable technical staff it requires. This philosophy on training is continuing to help the company build further partnerships with schools, businesses and organisations. More companies are becoming involved with the Maths in schools program, professional development training is being offered to teachers from the area and as always work is being done to encourage more young apprentices to become engineers of the future.