Students visited MTC at Ansty Business Park in Coventry for an immersive visit designed to give them first-hand exposure to the advanced manufacturing sector. The visit was hosted by Vijay Patel, Chief Programme Engineer – Academic Engagement. The students had the chance to tour the workshop, seeing engineers and machinery at work, and they also saw robots in operation and learned more about the companies that MTC partners with.
Loughborough is one of MTC’s founding institutions, alongside the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham. Loughborough alum Clive Hickman (MBA 1992), MTC’s former Chief Executive Officer, now chairs its board.
Commenting on the importance of engaging students in industry, Vijay said:
"Supporting Opportunity Scholars is a vital part of how we help build the next generation of talent for UK industry. By welcoming students into MTC, we can show them first-hand how engineering innovation underpins business growth – from developing products that can be manufactured at scale, to doing so in ways that are more sustainable, effective and safe. It’s about connecting academic potential with real-world impact."
The visit was particularly exciting for the three students who had this opportunity. They found the visit insightful and inspiring. One of the students said:
“I loved it. Looking at how everything operates and hearing what Vijay had to say was eye opening.”
Learning more about MTC at its headquarters gave the scholars valuable insight into the organisation and the wider manufacturing sector. All three students are interested in pursuing a career at MTC or in the wider manufacturing industry. One student added:
“It was very enjoyable. The whole trip was very informative and taught me a lot about the industry. Our host was amazing and really created a welcoming and engaging experience.”
Supporting future talent
MTC donates annually to Opportunity Scholarships, supporting students throughout their time at Loughborough. Students receive £3,000 a year for three years of study thanks to donations from individuals and organisations such as MTC. The scholarships provided by MTC are specifically for students on engineering courses. Many of the students who apply for Opportunity Scholarships are from households with low incomes, receive free school meals, or are from areas of the UK where there is low participation in higher education. Opportunity Scholarships are awarded to those that demonstrate academic potential and face significant barriers.
MTC supports one new scholar each year as well as two annual engineering prizes: the Manufacturing Engineering Project Prize and the Innovative Manufacturing Engineering Merit Prize.
By offering visits to its site alongside financial support, MTC goes a step further, offering students real-world insights into manufacturing technology, showing future career opportunities, and building a relationship between the students and the organisation.
Students continue to gain so much from the ongoing partnership. Thank you to MTC for supporting Loughborough talent.
To find out more about how you or your organisation could contribute, please contact the team or check out more information across our website.
