Fay Hutchinson has joined the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) in the newly created role of Learning Support Officer.
Working alongside Terry Collier, BCAS’s Learning and Development Officer, the new role will see BCAS further enhance the breadth and range of compressed air and vacuum training courses and approved accreditations available, with particular focus on increasing participation in its compressed air and vacuum technician (CAVT) apprenticeship.
Fay has a wealth of training experience, gained in roles both within engineering and the higher education sector. Starting her career in the stainless steel and aluminium sector, Fay holds a first-class honours degree in business management and a master of business administration (MBA) and has recently completed a level 6 diploma in career guidance and development.
Of particular benefit to BCAS and its members is Fay’s experience gained during her work with higher education institutes. She has held several employer relationship roles, most recently at the University of Greenwich, where she has secured successful industrial work placements for students during their university studies. She has also been actively involved in encouraging businesses to offer degree apprenticeships, using their apprenticeship levy where appropriate to either bring new talent into the business or to upskill existing members of staff.
Commenting on the appointment, Ashley Quarterman, BCAS Executive Director said:
“The industry is only too aware that recruiting and retaining skilled staff into the compressed air and wider engineering sector is challenging. Offering high-quality training, whether through our apprenticeship scheme or one of our many CPD-approved courses, can help to deliver the next generation of engineers that our sector needs.
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“It is great to welcome Fay to the team and to be able to draw on all her experience in both the industrial and education sectors. She understands how effective learning environments can be created, alongside the pressures faced by employers to continually train their teams and this will be of genuine benefit to our members.”
Fay added:
“I am really looking forward to using my skills to help further enhance the training support available to our members. I am already speaking to members about our CAVT apprenticeship and some of the ways we can refine it further through progression routes, as well as being able to advise on the range of bursaries and levy funding that could be available.”
For further information about the British Compressed Air Society please visit https://www.bcas.org.uk