Kendal firm sponsors pair on degrees in engineering (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Kendal firm sponsors pair on degrees in engineering
5:00pm Thursday 9th September 2010 in Silverdale news
JOB OFFERS: Joe Hacker and Lindsey Entwistle with Charles Crewdson
A MAJOR South Lakeland business is spending thousands of pounds to sponsor two students through university, keeping talent in Cumbria.
For the first time, Kendal-based manufacturers Gilbert Gilkes and Gordon has paid university fees for two 18-year-olds and will offer them a guaranteed job at the end of their electrical and mechanical engineering degrees.
Gilkes chairman Charles Crewdson said the move would help secure the future of the company and convince highly-skilled and academic employees to stay in the county.
Mr Crewdson said: “Both our students are getting a good deal – there aren’t many that go through university debt free, with a career ahead of them at the end of it.
“Normally young people fly the coop and head for London when they reach their 20s because they just can’t find jobs in Cumbria.
“Then the county has lost them until they return home in their 40s.
"We hope we can convince more skilled employees to stay in the region and boost our skills.
“Our students will return to us for some work during the summer months and come back to work after completing their degrees.”
School-leavers Joe Hacker and Lindsey Entwistle were chosen from a list of 20 hopeful students and offer-ed sponsorship.
As part of the deal they will also get an opportunity to travel to Gilkes US base, in Kemah, Texas.
Joe, of Carnforth, studied at Queen Elizabeth School, and will start at an electrical engineering degree at Bristol University later this month.
He said: “I’m really interested in engineering – anything with moving parts.
“When I was younger I became interested in power and motion. I used to take my computer to bits and build it back up.”
Lindsey, of Silverdale, studied at Lancaster Grammar and will read engineering at Oxford.
She added: “I like Gilkes’ focus on green issues and this course will also allow us to see how the international side of the business works – which will be a great opportunity.”
