A North Lindsey College engineering alumnus is taking his passion to new heights by furthering his education at degree level while his son begins his engineering journey at the same college he studied at over 30 years ago.
Self-proclaimed metallurgy ‘wizard’ Steve Field started his fabrication and welding journey at North Lindsey College in 1990, studying NVQ Level 2 Fabrication and Welding alongside a BTEC HNC in Engineering.
After leaving school with just a single qualification, the college gave him the foundation to turn things around. Within a year, Steve increased his qualifications from one to nine, all equivalent to grade C.
Now, at age 50, he’s pursuing a BSc (Honours) in STEM through the Open University, a move he believes is crucial to staying at the forefront of his field.
Steve said: “Having not done the best at school, I was able to fully reset with North Lindsey and flourish through a different model of teaching. The education I received there set up my mode of operation and continues to influence my career today.”
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Steve has since established himself as a specialist in Project and Construction Management, working in diverse sectors including oil and gas, chemicals and mining. His career has taken him across Europe, the Middle East, and throughout the UK – achievements he credits to the solid educational foundation he gained at North Lindsey College.
Meanwhile, his son Hayden is following in his dad’s footsteps by enrolling on the same Fabrication and Welding courses and walking the same halls Steve did over three decades ago. This marks a proud moment for Steve, as Hayden works towards a qualification that will see him enter the same industry his dad has thrived in.
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The college has significantly invested in its Engineering offer over the last decade with a state-of-the-art Engineering Technology Centre that boasts industry-standard equipment, including fabrication and welding bays, CAD, mechatronics, robotics, wind turbines and more.
A recent Construction Skills Network (CSN) report forecasts that by 2027, 36,000 new welding job are expected to replace existing welders reaching retirement age. This makes up a wider picture where more than 250,000 new skilled workers will be required to meet UK constriction output by 2028 – 26,600 of those in the Yorkshire and Humber area alone.
“Hearing Steve and Hayden’s story is truly inspiring,” said David West, Curriculum Lead for Engineering at North Lindsey College. “With the growing demand for skilled welders, it’s wonderful to see one of our students following in their father’s footsteps—learning the trade on the very same campus where his dad honed his skills years ago.”
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
