Strong results and routes into industry for Crewe engineering students
More than 50 students at Crewe UTC have received their T Level and BTEC Engineering results, with a notable number moving straight into higher-level apprenticeships with employers. The UTC on West Street, part of The Learning Partnership, said the outcomes complete students' industry placements and help them step into the next stage of their careers.
The centre highlighted a record intake of T Level students securing Level 6 Degree Apprenticeships. The achievements underline the UTC's emphasis on combining classroom learning with workplace experience and employer-led projects.
Students secure competitive apprenticeships with national employers
Two students were named in the UTC's statement as examples of the pathway working. Oli S achieved a distinction in her T Level and has been offered a Level 6 Project Management Degree Apprenticeship with Gleeds. Finn M will move on to a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship with Hoare Lea Building Services as a design engineer.
"Our industry placements were great for experience and for making contacts. The extra curricular opportunities and employer set projects made my CV stand out, resulting in 3 excellent offers,"
— Oli S
"I enjoyed the mixture of industry placements and college based learning, and gathered lots of experience being on placement and it helped with interviews and my portfolio,"
— Finn M
How the UTC approach helped students
The UTC credited the combination of formal qualifications and practical placements for the positive results. Staff say employer-set projects and extracurricular clubs helped students develop portfolios and interview experience that made them stand out to degree apprenticeship providers.
- Industry placements: central to students' real-world experience and networking.
- Employer projects: used to build CVs and portfolios valued at interview stage.
- Extracurricular clubs: recommended by students as a way to gain extra skills and evidence for applications.
Principal praises cohort and looks ahead
Will Chitty, Principal at Crewe UTC, told Nub News the Year 13 cohort had worked "incredibly hard" in lessons and with industry partners to graduate industry ready. The UTC said it will continue to support alumni as they progress into engineering and design roles.
| Student | Qualification | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Oli S | T Level (Distinction) | Level 6 Project Management Degree Apprenticeship — Gleeds |
| Finn M | T Level | Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship — Hoare Lea Building Services (Design Engineer) |
The UTC's success is a local win for Crewe employers too. Degree apprenticeships at Level 6 offer firms a route to recruit staff trained to employer specifications, potentially improving workforce skills in the town's engineering and construction sectors. Employers involved with Crewe UTC also benefit from seeing prospective hires during placements — a chance to assess and develop talent before offering apprenticeships.
Students who gave testimony urged future cohorts to make the most of the extra activities available. Oli advised prospective pupils to take advantage of employer projects and extracurricular offers to boost their applications. Finn recommended getting involved in clubs and placements to build a stronger portfolio and interview record.
For Crewe, the results are more than a set of grades. They point to a continuing pipeline of locally trained engineers and technicians entering higher-level apprenticeships and the regional labour market — a boost for businesses seeking skilled staff and for young people aiming to secure long-term careers without taking a traditional university route.
