SWDT engineers graduate at Durham Cathedral

Four SWDT engineering students have graduated at a ceremony held at Durham Cathedral.

Jack Watson (HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering) and Daniel Collinson, Tom Newrick and Curtis Raine (HNC in Engineering) were among 120 HE students who picked up their scrolls after years of study in subjects ranging from engineering and business to teaching, counselling, sport, healthcare, music and performing arts.

Highly experienced engineer Neil Rowley graduated with a Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership at Bishop Auckland College.

After 35 years with the same employer, Neil has prepared himself for a potential leap into management for the first time after completing the leadership programme.

The 52-year-old has been employed by Darchem Engineering in Stockton-on-Tees since his sheet metal worker apprenticeship back in 1987.

Neil, of Darlington, said: “Having been a Team Leader for a number of years, I have looked for opportunities for training during that time. The course looked like the perfect opportunity to do some training and gain further qualifications if I wish to progress with my career.

“It helped me improve my understanding in areas where I had very little experience. I am undecided whether to go into management as yet. However, if that is the decision I take then this course has given me a good start to do that.”

The guest speaker at the ceremony was Bishop Auckland College’s former Access to Education student Kim Nielsen, who is now a successful solicitor specialising in civil litigation and employment law. She told the graduates of her educational and career journey, which included regional managerial positions in retail and an aborted plan to run a cake shop before returning to education at the college ten years ago.

Kim, who qualified in 2019 with Hewitts Solicitors in Bishop Auckland, said: “Signing up for the access course was the best decision I made. It was such a challenge managing work, life, home and the course workload but I fell in love with learning.

“The support and encouragement of the lecturers was boundless; however the friendships I made with peers and the support and encouragement from them was immeasurable. I made friends for life during my time at the college.”

Principal and Chief Executive of Bishop Auckland College Natalie Davison-Terranova paid tribute to the dedication of the HE tutors and praised the graduates for their hard work.

She said: “I cannot emphasise enough how you must all feel very proud of your achievements; you must revel in the knowledge that you have already achieved immense success and that you will, undoubtedly, go on to achieve much more in the future.

“When you achieve something brilliant - as all of you here tonight have - then you must really hold on to that achievement, and remember how extraordinary and powerful you are, as that will carry you through some of life’s difficult moments.”

South West Durham Training is part of the Bishop Auckland College Group.

Main photo: pictured (l-r) are graduates Jack Watson (HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering) with Daniel Collinson, Tom Newrick and Curtis Raine (HNC in Engineering).